Formula 1 highlighted a weak point of George Russell at the 2026 Miami GP. The Mercedes driver acknowledged difficulties on the circuit after finishing only fifth on the grid.
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The result gains even more weight when compared to the performance of Kimi Antonelli, who secured another pole position. The difference between the two reinforces a scenario of dominance by the young teammate over the weekend.
Russell explained that he lost a good opportunity on the final lap of qualifying. “I made a mistake in the last corner of the last lap. I was about three tenths faster,” he said, showing frustration with the performance.
The Briton pointed out that the problem is not new and is related to the type of track. “It’s a low-grip track, you slide a lot, the asphalt is hot. It’s something I’ve always struggled with here,” he said. He also compared Miami to other similar circuits, such as Brazil and Zandvoort, where he also faces challenges.
According to Russell, his driving style does not favor this type of condition. “I’m a smoother and more precise driver, and on these tracks you have to accept the car sliding all the time. It feels like you have very worn tires, with little grip,” he explained.
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Despite the difficulties in qualifying, the driver sees positive points in race pace. He believes he could have maintained position in previous battles and highlights that there are still opportunities throughout the race, especially with the forecast of weather changes.
The team principal, Toto Wolff, compared the situation to athletes who perform better in different conditions. “It’s like a tennis player who is better on clay or hard court. Even so, he improved throughout qualifying and was close to a better result,” he said.
Even behind his teammate in the championship, Russell rules out a conservative approach. “I’m not thinking about damage limitation. I will maximize the result. It’s still early and I know there are tracks where I can be stronger,” he concluded.
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