British media stress Russell’s 'miserable afternoon' at Suzuka as title lead slips

The Guardian, the very outlet at the centre of the Suzuka weekend controversy after Max Verstappen abruptly brushed off one of its journalists during Thursday’s media session, underlined how Russell now needs to be wary of his team-mate, with Antonelli riding a wave of momentum and confidence

The Sun highlighted the frustration of the British driver, who came into the season as the clear title favourite, and how misfortune has dealt him a cruel blow over the past two races.

The Daily Mail pointed out how Russell endured a “miserable afternoon” in Suzuka, having hoped to halt his team-mate’s momentum, which instead only continued to build.

In Italy, La Gazzetta dello Sport celebrated Antonelli’s breakthrough while urging caution, stressing that any title challenge must be built step by step, even as his second consecutive win in Suzuka saw him become the youngest championship leader in F1 history, beating Hamilton’s record.

In Spain, MARCA praised the Italian’s talent and rapid rise, but pointed out that, had Mercedes opted for Sainz in 2025, the Spaniard would likely find himself in a similar position, underlining once again how decisive the car remains.

In Germany, BILD instead turned its focus to Russell’s frustration, highlighting how he not only failed to match his team-mate but also missed out on the podium, marking his first real low point of the season despite Mercedes’ dominant start.