Jan Lammers is ruthless on the Kimi Antonelli-George Russell issue
There has been a major shakeup within the Mercedes team following the first half of the Formula 1 season: George Russell, the heavy favorite for the World Championship and the team’s undisputed leader, has been decisively overtaken by his teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who has established himself as the man to beat and now tops the overall standings with 6 wins and a 59-point lead over the British driver.
According to former Formula 1 driver Jan Lammers, Mercedes and Russell himself made a crucial mistake at the start of the season, even before the championship began. “Russell and the team should have anticipated what Kimi would do this season. I think George himself, the team, and even the media made the mistake of presenting Russell as the undisputed favorite for the title. By doing so, Antonelli faced no pressure at the start of the year. And if there was any pressure, he handled it—and is handling it—very well.”
“On the contrary, Russell underestimated him and didn’t give Antonelli the credit and respect he deserved. If anyone should have known how good Kimi was, it should have been him. Now that the truth has come to light, Russell must face this situation and try to resolve it.” Unlike Antonelli, the British driver has not yet managed to adapt to the new F1 regulations, which took effect in 2026, and has repeatedly explained that he is forced to change his driving style.
Former Haas team principal Günther Steiner believes the Bolognese driver will win the title; on the “Up to Speed” podcast, he made no secret of his enthusiasm: “Kimi Antonelli will win. I think this young talent is doing an incredible job. I would never have said ‘Kimi’ six months ago, but now… he’s really delivering excellent performances. Mercedes is also in a strong position. I believe Kimi will take home the title.” Max Verstappen is on the same page, telling Sky Sports that the Bolognese driver is “really strong, really solid, the strongest on the team,” emphasizing how Antonelli has managed to stay resilient despite some bouts of bad luck throughout the season.
Russell, for his part, revealed that he’s working with a mental health professional: the Brit has been collaborating with a sports psychologist since 2020. “The main goal is to help me perform at my best, but also to support the team, manage the pressure of a race weekend as effectively as possible, and channel my energy throughout the season,” explained the driver from King’s Lynn, who, after the Hungarian Grand Prix—the last race before the summer break—made no secret of his fatigue: “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.” Further weighing on the Briton’s morale are rumors of a possible move by Max Verstappen to Mercedes, which put his seat at risk ahead of his contract renewal.
