Antonelli a shock for Russell
From the certainty of being launched towards the first world title in his F1 career to being outclassed by his teammate in his second year in F1. The world of George Russell has turned upside down in a few weeks. Now the Englishman will have to draw on all his mental energy not to come out more than diminished from what was supposed to be the year of the definitive takeoff.
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Russell was a worthy teammate of Lewis Hamilton for three years and since last year he has been the ‘captain’ of Mercedes now that with the move of the seven-time world champion to Ferrari the seat has been freed for Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
The Italian driver in Australia never questioned Russell’s leadership, but from China onwards he has gradually eroded like the greatest of excavators the ground under Russell’s feet who finds himself down 6 to 2 in terms of stage wins and 59 points behind Antonelli.
Juan Pablo Montoya highlighted how difficult George Russell’s position is psychologically: “Russell’s difficulties are quite shocking – Montoya said when reached by Betpack – everyone expected him to dominate the season but it is not so. Psychologically he has a mountain to climb because it is not at all easy to digest that even giving your best is not enough to beat your teammate and win the title. Antonelli surprised everyone, Russell first.”
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