Formula 1 arrives at the Miami GP with pressure on George Russell. The Briton has been advised to react after losing ground to his Mercedes teammate.
Read more F1: Debate over driver salaries heats up with spending cap
After a balanced start, Kimi Antonelli took control of the internal dispute by winning in China and Japan. The Italian leads the championship by nine points and has become the youngest driver in history to top the standings.
According to former category driver Karun Chandhok, Russell needs to regain momentum in the season, especially in Miami: “George needs to react in terms of momentum within the team,” he stated, highlighting the importance of an immediate response in the internal battle.
Read more F1: Szafnauer considers return with own team
The former driver also recalled that the North American circuit was favorable to Antonelli last year. According to him, the Italian performed better in some specific stages, including Miami, where he even showed a clear advantage over Russell in pace and results.
Even with Russell generally maintaining a small advantage in single-lap performance, the gap narrowed in 2026. As a result, the internal dispute gains even more weight, and the Miami GP emerges as a crucial point to define the direction of this battle within Mercedes.
Read more F1 today: FIA changes Miami and teams react before the return
