An unexpected problem for George Russell in his battle with Kimi Antonelli

At the halfway point of the season, the situation at Mercedes is clearer than ever: Andrea Kimi Antonelli leads the overall standings with a 59-point lead over George Russell, who is in third place. The pre-season predictions have been turned on their head, and many have been surprised by the British driver’s passivity, as he has been unable to cope with the Italian’s exuberance.

According to former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya, as reported by PlanetF1, a particular trait of the rising star from Bologna is throwing Russell off his game: “The dynamic is complicated, because Kimi is incredibly fast, and he’s also a very likable person. When the guy is fast and a jerk, it’s much easier to deal with him and build up that anger that gives you the momentum to destroy him.”

“But Kimi is different—he’s so kind… I think George needs to find a way to stand up to Kimi. If he does, he’ll put Kimi in an uncomfortable position because he’s still inexperienced. If he rises to Kimi’s level, he could put him on the back foot and force him into making mistakes. But for now, the gap is wide.”

Russell’s own words after the Hungarian Grand Prix—the last race before the summer break—painted an even clearer picture of his state of mind. The Brit, forced to fight his way back from last place after a problem at the start and finishing only sixth, made no secret of his exhaustion: “I’ve never had a season like this in my career. Problems happen to me, but the whole team is experiencing them. I don’t usually feel the need for a break, but this year I definitely feel the need for one.”

Verstappen, meanwhile, had words of great praise for Antonelli. In an interview with Sky Sports, the Dutchman described the Bolognese driver as “really strong, really solid—the strongest on the team,” adding: “First and foremost, he’s a good person and a very strong driver, so it’s a great combination.”