David Coulthard believes George Russell must “begin eroding” his Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli’s confidence to be able to battle for his first drivers’ championship.
Russell was tipped as a favorite for the 2026 drivers’ championship title forward of the season, however Antonelli’s sturdy streak, which has included two grand prix wins within the first three rounds, has dented the Briton’s title bid.
Antonelli’s win on the Japanese Grand Prix positioned him because the youngest championship chief within the historical past of the sequence, and he now has a nine-point lead over Russell.
“I feel George is realising that is his alternative and any benefit that they’ve had in these early races will slowly be eroded as their buyer groups perceive how one can use their vitality as Kimi grows in confidence,” Coulthard stated through the Up To Pace podcast.
“You do not need a very assured team-mate. You desire a team-mate that is barely pondering, ‘Oh, I am undecided I can beat him in qualifying.’ Belief me, I do know as a result of I had team-mates the place I’d sit there trying on the lap time in qualifying pondering, ‘I’ve obtained another set of tyres. I do not suppose I can go any quicker.’
“So, George has to now begin eroding that confidence inside Kimi. And he is having to try this while after all, [keeping] the facade of the workforce. Mercedes, you understand, we love one another, everybody’s high-quality, however it would come to a head.
George Russell, Mercedes
Picture by: Alastair Staley / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
“And so far as I am involved for George, he is obtained to get his shoulders behind that and get his elbows out sooner moderately than later as a result of Kimi is rising in confidence proper now.”
The drivers now have a five-week break earlier than the Miami Grand Prix on 1-3 Might because of the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix. The sudden break within the calendar may properly give Mercedes’ rivals an opportunity to take inventory and compensate for growth, putting much more stress on Russell’s shoulders.
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