The internal dispute at Mercedes has gained even more tension in the 2026 Formula 1 season, following Kimi Antonelli’s dominant start in 2026. Martin Brundle believes that George Russell needs to react immediately at the Canadian GP to prevent the young Italian from extending his psychological advantage in the title fight.
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Russell started the season as the natural favorite within the German team but sees Antonelli leading the championship with a twenty-point advantage. The nineteen-year-old Italian has won three of the first four races this year and arrives boosted after another victory in Miami.
The former Formula 1 driver and current Sky Sports commentator, Brundle, stated that the points difference is not yet decisive, mainly because the championship is just beginning. According to him, the mental factor may end up having more weight than the mathematics at this point in the season.
“There is a long way to go. There are still 482 points available in this championship,” said Brundle. “I don’t think the points difference is a big problem for Russell. Last year, in Canada, Lando Norris had an awkward accident with his McLaren teammate and it seemed that this would hurt his championship chances, but then he ended up being world champion,” he said.
Brundle also recalled that the weekend in Canada promises challenging conditions for drivers and teams. Besides the Sprint format, the forecast indicates low temperatures and the possibility of rain on Sunday.
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“This will be only the fifth stage of the season and it will be a challenging race. It is the first Sprint in Canada. It will be cold and it might rain on GP day. It will be a big challenge,” said the commentator. In his assessment, Russell needs to stop his teammate’s positive momentum as soon as possible. “George needs to stop Antonelli and recover some points, but I believe this is more psychological than mathematical,” he added.
Brundle also praised Antonelli’s performance at the start of this championship. The young driver won the first three races in which he started from pole position, as well as showing consistency and control under pressure.
“He has been impressive, for his speed and consistency. In Miami, he kept calm under pressure,” he said. The commentator also believes that Russell can offer greater resistance in Canada, a circuit where he had a strong performance last season.
“George struggled in Miami, but he is very strong in Canada. So Kimi will have a tougher fight within the team, especially because several teams will also bring updates,” concluded the former driver.
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