Kimi Antonelli dismisses George Russell hope amid Mercedes struggles
Antonelli doesn't support Russell's tyre theory (Photo: Race Pictures)
16:55, 23 Sep
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Connor Andrews is Formula 1 and MotoGP writer for GPblog and various outlets. Having worked in motorsport for 15 years for leading companies, he has interviewed the sports biggest names and attended multiple Grands Prix.
Kimi Antonelli has dashed George Russell’s hopes that next season’s rule tweaks could benefit his Mercedes teammate.
The Italian had a rough time in his debut season, but this term he’s dominated Russell and sits 81 points clear at the top of the championship.
Russell entered the 2026 season as the clear favourite, and even won the opener in Australia, but since then, it’s been largely downhill.
Along with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, the Brit has perhaps struggled most with the new generation of cars and power units, but there may be a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.
A series of tweaks are coming to next year’s regulations, and one that Russell is eyeing is Pirelli’s new tyres.
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Russell identifies tyres as key problem in 2026 struggles
Identifying why their 2026 range has troubled him, the Brit told GPblog and others: “I think it's been clear this season that the tyres, front to rear, probably have not been well balanced enough.
“You look at some tracks that are clearly front-limited, and the fronts have stayed pretty strong throughout. So it could also be because of the extra power we've got coming off the corners, so the rear tyres are getting a harder time.
“It's actually quite interesting. I spoke with Antonio Giovinazzi, who drove this new generation of car for the first time not so long ago, a couple of days ago in Imola.
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Russell is hoping the cars will suit him better in 2027 (Photo: Race Pictures)
“He said how impressed he was with the power of these new cars off the corner. And I think that has quite an impact on the rear tyres.
“So obviously, last year when we developed these tyres, they were with the previous generation of power unit, which had much less power off the corners. So I don't think it's a big surprise the rear tyres are getting a harder time than we anticipated.”
Such a change could well benefit Russell, but his teammate, Antonelli, isn’t so sure.
Arguing that it’s just part of the adaptation as an F1 driver, he gave his side of the argument.
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Antonelli offers different verdict to Mercedes teammate
He commented: “I think, also this year, the tyre changed completely. So I think, on my side, you try to understand the tyre the best way you can, and you try to adapt.
“I think the tyres won't be so much different compared to next year; probably the front tyre will change a little bit in terms of structure a little bit. We'll see what Pirelli decides.
“We've done some Pirelli testing, and we're giving feedback. But, of course, we'll see what is going to be decided.
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“But from what we heard, it shouldn't be much different to what it was this year. But we'll see.
“I mean, the car will be different. On the aero side, the car is changing, especially around the deep area. There's going to be a big change, which is going to implement that aero loss; then the team will for sure find a way to recover that.
“But the car is going to be a little bit different next year for sure. The baseline will be the same, I think, but maybe, together with the tyre and the car evolving, it's going to feel a little bit different.
“But it's all about adapting at the end of the day. So we'll see. Hopefully, it's going to feel good, but first, we've got to finish this year.”
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