Russell responds to Monza podium boos after missing out on Italian GP victory
Photo: Race Pictures
19:33, 06 Sep
2 Comments
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he has produced high-volume reporting on the sport’s biggest stories, alongside feature pieces including analysis and historical content.
Mercedes' George Russell has reacted to being booed on the Italian GP podium following his teammate Kimi Antonelli's sensational victory from P19. Finishing second, the Briton was overtaken for the win late on by the home hero.
Starting at the back of the grid , Antonelli blasted through the field at Monza - making up a remarkable 18 places in 18 laps. After a 'yo-yo' battle with Russell halfway through the race, the Italian took advantage of a Lap 28 Virtual Safety Car and pitted for a second set of mediums, eventually making his way past Russell on Lap 50 of 53.
The Monza crowd were in raptures, as Antonelli became the first Italian to win at the iconic circuit since Ludovico Scarfiotti in 1966. They were not, however, as receptive to the 20-year-old's teammate - now 66 points behind Antonelli after finishing P2.
Russell addresses Mercedes strategy - and Monza boos
ADVERTISEMENT
Photo: Race Pictures
Asked on Mercedes' handling of his Italian GP strategy - which saw the Briton complete 50 laps on the hard tyres following Charles Leclerc's heavy crash at Parabolica - Russell expressed frustration with the VSC and the Silver Arrows' decision to pit his teammate.
He told media, including GPblog: "I was on the hard tyre and Kimi was on the medium tyre. So if either of us were to pit, it was gonna be Kimi. And that's I guess, why I was just a little bit annoyed with the timing of that VSC because... I think it would have been tough for those guys on the medium to to have competed with anybody on on the hard tyre. But, you know, it takes nothing away from from Kimi's drive altogether."
Addressing the boos from the Monza crowd, Russell was unbothered and unsurprised considering the home support for Antonelli. "Obviously, when you're racing in somebody else's home country, that's to be expected. So, yeah, smirked it off."
ADVERTISEMENT
Don’t miss GPblog in Google
Mark us as a preferred source and our articles will appear more often at the top of Top Stories.
Add as a preferred / source on GoogleRead more about:
latest news
Spanish Grand Prix
Overview
Friday 11.09.26
Practice 1
11:30 AM
Practice 2
03:00 PM
Saturday 12.09.26
Practice 3
10:30 AM
Qualification
02:00 PM
Sunday 13.09.26
Race
01:00 PM
Friday 11.09.26
Practice 1
Fri 11:30 AM
Practice 2
Fri 03:00 PM
Saturday 12.09.26
Practice 3
Sat 10:30 AM
Qualification
Sat 02:00 PM
Sunday 13.09.26
Race
Sun 01:00 PM
Times are in your local timezone
Rumors
Popular on GPBlog
1
Kelly Piquet and Penelope meet Wolff in Monza: 'We are coming to see you'
5246 times read
2
Wolff smashes Mercedes computer screen as Russell denied Italian GP Pole Position
3180 times read
3
Hamilton calls for 'rules of engagement' at Ferrari: 'At Mercedes, we had it written'
2709 times read
4
F1 LIVE | Reaction as Kimi Antonelli wins Italian GP from 19th!
1940 times read
F1-stand 2026
Season
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | MercedesMER | 267 | |
2 | MercedesMER | 201 | |
3 | FerrariFER | 191 | |
4 | McLarenMCL | 171 | |
5 | FerrariFER | 155 | |
6 | Red Bull RacingRBR | 127 | |
7 | McLarenMCL | 116 | |
8 | Red Bull RacingRBR | 71 | |
9 | Racing BullsRCB | 51 | |
10 | AlpineALP | 41 |
Loading
