“My relationship with George is definitely evolving. It’s natural that he isn’t happy finishing behind me, just as I’m never happy when I’m behind,” he told Sky Sport Italy after the Brazil GP.

He also added that “the relationship has changed and will continue to change, but there’s a lot of respect between us and a great team dynamic, because we’re pushing each other.”

The young Italian driver is coming off the best weekend of his Formula 1 career so far, securing double second-place finishes in both the sprint race and the Grand Prix, while also demonstrating for the first time that he has the edge over his teammate in every session.

The Italian struggled in the first part of the season to string together clean weekends and consistent results — something Russell managed brilliantly, securing his contract extension through a series of podiums and victories.

However, Mercedes Deputy Technical Director Simone Resta believes that Antonelli’s performance at the Brazilian Grand Prix was the result of progress made after the European leg of the 2025 F1 season, noting that the Italian driver is “more focused” on the technical aspects.”