British media question Russell's title hopes after Antonelli's Belgian GP triumph
Photo: Race Pictures
18:15, 20 Jul
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Henry Eccles is a freelance Formula 1 journalist for GPblog, covering breaking news, live race blogs, and features across the F1 calendar. Since joining in 2026, he has produced high-volume reporting on the sport’s biggest stories, alongside feature pieces including analysis and historical content.
The intra-Mercedes battle for the Drivers' title took yet another turn at the weekend, as Kimi Antonelli delivered a statement victory at the Belgian GP, while George Russell suffered a heartbreak DNF on Lap 1 at Spa-Francorchamps. The gap between the Silver Arrows' pairing in the standings is now at 50 points.
After colliding with Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton at Les Combes, Russell's Belgian GP was over after just five corners, and with his former Mercedes teammate going on to secure P4 at Spa, the 28-year-old has fallen to P3 in the Drivers' standings.
Speaking after his Belgian GP, Russell told media, including GPblog, that he has now become "numb to disappointment" after suffering another torrid weekend, where luck, yet again, just has not been on his side.
The Briton also revealed power unit issues that saw him "swallowed up" on the Kemmel Straight prior to his crash, with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff later confirming problems with "all Mercedes engines" at Spa. Here is how the British media have reacted to the Belgian GP.
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BBC Sport
In their coverage of the Belgian GP, BBC Sport say there "more questions than answers" surrounding Russell, drawing attention to Antonelli's stellar drive at Spa, and the fact Russell needs both a "flawless" three days at the upcoming Hungarian GP, and for Antonelli and Hamilton to hit problems.
"For Mercedes team-mate George Russell, there are more questions than answers following his crash out on the opening lap. The 25-point deficit to Antonelli before Belgium has swelled to 50 points after, plus he's lost a place in the standings to old Silver Arrows buddy Lewis Hamilton.
"Can Russell recover from his latest stumbling block and get his championship challenge back on track? He'll need a flawless three says in Budapest next week - and for Antonelli and Hamilton to trip up - in order for that to happen."
Photo: Race Pictures
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The Guardian
Focusing more closely on Russell's complaints over straight-line speed, The Guardian believe Antonelli's Belgian GP win has exposed a somewhat "inexplicable faultline" within the Mercedes team, one that that could "give conspiracy theorists a field day."
"Victory in the Belgian Grand Prix could not have been sweeter for Kimi Antonelli, but it has cruelly exposed something of an inexplicable faultline within his Mercedes team."
The report continued: "It is a deficit that notably is not affecting Antonelli, giving the conspiracy theorists a field day but more importantly posing a conundrum for Mercedes that they apparently cannot quite fathom."
For the British outlet, Antonelli's sixth win of the season has also"reasserted his supremacy" in the 2026 title race, while Russell was left with nothing but "discontent and demands for answers."
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Photo: Race Pictures
Daily Mail
Reacting to Russell's "numb to disappointment" comment, the Daily Mail note his pained expression after the Belgian GP collision with Hamilton told a different story. Like BBC Sport, the British publication focused on the questions crowding what ought to be Russell's "bamboozled mind."
"Poor George is growing accustomed to summoning words to describe slings and Silver Arrows of outrageous fortune he cannot fully comprehend. His world title dream is in rising jeopardy and questions crowd his bamboozled mind.
"Why is he not as fast as Kimi Antonelli, the race winner and championship leader, in the same Mercedes machinery? Why is he suffering dramatic loss of pace in a straight line?
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"Why are all the expectations he embraced as the pre-season favourite eluding him week after week? The story of his cameo at Spa nailed those doubts further into his frontal lobe."
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