2026 Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team

[avantman]

Antonelli had the lead from the start for multiple laps, never been able to drive away and open up agap. He was then gifted the lead again when Russell outbraked himself and went off in the hairpin having 1,2s lead, Kimi still couldnt get away, drop Russell and open up even 1s plus gap. All the talks on how much faster he was is nonsense. The battery power boost a car behind could use was masssive this weekend. This is why Kimi loookedfaster being behind.
We saw exactly the same between Lewis and Max on both stints. The one behind loooked faster and the one ahead could never drive away. (Lewis obviously made a big mistake in 1st stint which let Max drop him)

[OverheatedTurbo]

Antonelli had the lead from the start for multiple laps, never been able to drive away and open up agap. He was then gifted the lead again when Russell outbraked himself and went off in the hairpin having 1,2s lead, Kimi still couldnt get away, drop Russell and open up even 1s plus gap. All the talks on how much faster he was is nonsense. The battery power boost a car behind could use was masssive this weekend. This is why Kimi loookedfaster being behind.
We saw exactly the same between Lewis and Max on both stints. The one behind loooked faster and the one ahead could never drive away. (Lewis obviously made a big mistake in 1st stint which let Max drop him)

Yep. Some people are eating the Italian propaganda. But yeah, George is slower than him according to them.

[SB15]

Antonelli had the lead from the start for multiple laps, never been able to drive away and open up agap. He was then gifted the lead again when Russell outbraked himself and went off in the hairpin having 1,2s lead, Kimi still couldnt get away, drop Russell and open up even 1s plus gap. All the talks on how much faster he was is nonsense. The battery power boost a car behind could use was masssive this weekend. This is why Kimi loookedfaster being behind.
We saw exactly the same between Lewis and Max on both stints. The one behind loooked faster and the one ahead could never drive away. (Lewis obviously made a big mistake in 1st stint which let Max drop him)

Yep. Some people are eating the Italian propaganda. But yeah, George is slower than him according to them.

But you guys need to consider that George was more or less nowhere in Miami. It wasn't smooth sailing for George at one of his best tracks, I think everyone expected him to be a distant first, what we didn't expect was for Antonelli to be so close.

I know we've seen the magic in George Russell and the championship is far from over, Kimi 100% could be a Oscar Piastri situation, but you guys need to come to terms that Kimi's ceiling is astronomically higher than George's right now and he's got a lot of time in his hand to develop.

[Waz]

Kimi was honestly super impressive this weekend. Couldn't put it together for quali but I think it's fair to say he was the faster driver in both the sprint and the race. I am wondering what George might be thinking after this weekend. It's not going to be a walk in the park as some might have thought after last year.

This reminds me of last season and Piastri. Came from nowhere and then came the pressures. We haven't seen Europe yet.

4 wins n a row is very impressive though. And the difference is that Kimi has been genuinely faster.

Oh, and the uncomfortable truth of Kimi definitely being, shall we say, on the more favorable side of Toto.

George is like the bastard son, who does everything well, but it's all overlooked.

[nitrotech]

Antonelli had the lead from the start for multiple laps, never been able to drive away and open up agap. He was then gifted the lead again when Russell outbraked himself and went off in the hairpin having 1,2s lead, Kimi still couldnt get away, drop Russell and open up even 1s plus gap. All the talks on how much faster he was is nonsense. The battery power boost a car behind could use was masssive this weekend. This is why Kimi loookedfaster being behind.
We saw exactly the same between Lewis and Max on both stints. The one behind loooked faster and the one ahead could never drive away. (Lewis obviously made a big mistake in 1st stint which let Max drop him)

Yep. Some people are eating the Italian propaganda. But yeah, George is slower than him according to them.

But you guys need to consider that George was more or less nowhere in Miami. It wasn't smooth sailing for George at one of his best tracks, I think everyone expected him to be a distant first, what we didn't expect was for Antonelli to be so close.

I know we've seen the magic in George Russell and the championship is far from over, Kimi 100% could be a Oscar Piastri situation, but you guys need to come to terms that Kimi's ceiling is astronomically higher than George's right now and he's got a lot of time in his hand to develop.

Reverse the situation. See how it goes. Kimi's garage is struggling to get his setup right and he struggles to find a good balance for 3 race weekends in a row. His PU has snags from China onwards and George is having straight forward time with the car and his garage is finding good balance and is hooking well. What would have happened? Still think George would be in reach?

At some point, usually luck changes sides. Let's see when that happens, how things go.

[Big Tea]

I keep saying it, George does not like a loose or unpredictable car, and this Merc is both. There is no doubting Kimi is up there, but right now things are not falling for George, and pure luck is the extra kick. It was good watching them race eachother, so looking good for the rest of the season

[Badger]

Let's not overstate it. Kimi led at the start and George overtook him and managed to pull outside of the one second limit for a good few laps before they started trading lock-ups into T10.

[AR3-GP]

I wouldn't be surprised if Russell damaged the energy store when he bottomed the car on the sausage curb while forcing Kimi off the track at the chicane. The energy store is right there under the car. It would have taken a hit when he landed on the sausage curb.



Another incident that the stewards failed to investigate. It's good to establish precedent for the future.

[AR3-GP]

At some point, usually luck changes sides. Let's see when that happens, how things go.

Well which one is it? It is "luck" or is it "planned"?

Despite having an experienced driver, they are struggling or unless like I suspect, it's planned.

[venkyhere]

I wouldn't be surprised if Russell damaged the energy store when he bottomed the car on the sausage curb while forcing Kimi off the track at the chicane. The energy store is right there under the car. It would have taken a hit when he landed on the sausage curb.

https://i.postimg.cc/V6KRHvsr/Chicane.gif

Another incident that the stewards failed to investigate. It's good to establish precedent for the future.

well spotted. Highly likely

[avantman]

I wouldn't be surprised if Russell damaged the energy store when he bottomed the car on the sausage curb while forcing Kimi off the track at the chicane. The energy store is right there under the car. It would have taken a hit when he landed on the sausage curb.

https://i.postimg.cc/V6KRHvsr/Chicane.gif

Another incident that the stewards failed to investigate. It's good to establish precedent for the future.

They investigated both drivers for actions in that exact incident and said no further actions. Russell was a defending car and kept the position not being able to remain within the track limits( he was fully off and got a strike), but kimi went off the track as well and clearly gained lasting advantage both in terms of position and race time. Mercedes were smart enough to tell him quickly give it back, which he didn't initially agree with saying “he pushed me off, i was ahead”, because if he kept it the penalty would’ve been inevitable. This is more than obvious. Kimi was not ahead from what I can see anywhere near the apex, therefore wasn't deemed cars width space on the outside. Nobody would ever let him just drive there and not push off. Russell did what every competitive driver would do, the only thing is that he went off himself. Kimi again tried completely hopeless amateurish move. What would you do? Penalize who and for what? Imo the stewards did everything right, I don't think they set any precedents there.

[AR3-GP]

I wouldn't be surprised if Russell damaged the energy store when he bottomed the car on the sausage curb while forcing Kimi off the track at the chicane. The energy store is right there under the car. It would have taken a hit when he landed on the sausage curb.

https://i.postimg.cc/V6KRHvsr/Chicane.gif

Another incident that the stewards failed to investigate. It's good to establish precedent for the future.

They investigated both drivers for actions in that exact incident and said no further actions. Russell was a defending car and kept the position not being able to remain within the track limits( he was fully off and got a strike), but kimi went off the track as well and clearly gained lasting advantage both in terms of position and race time. Mercedes were smart enough to tell him quickly give it back, which he didn't initially agree with saying “he pushed me off, i was ahead”, because if he kept it the penalty would’ve been inevitable. This is more than obvious. Kimi was not ahead from what I can see anywhere near the apex, therefore wasn't deemed cars width space on the outside. He again tried completely hopeless amateurish move. What would you do? Penalize who and for what? Imo the stewards did everything right, I don't think they set any precedents there.

I'm just making sure we establish a consistent precedent for the future as we've seen incidents like this before.

[selvam_e2002]

If you have support from the team, then you will have upper hand always. If Kiki wins he will be youngest all time F1 WDC. So Mercedes team behind him. Russel is poor guy now sitting duck in Mercedes F1 team.

if the car good, then the driver will deliver it. So I don't see any special thing in Kimi. He may be Next Vettel/Max.... win for next 4 years. once next rule change happened, he will not be remembered....and making complaint about the rule change like what Max doing now.

[Lasssept]

Motor Sport magazine: In the space of just three F1 race weekends, Kimi Antonelli has turned a four-point deficit into a 43-point advantage over Mercedes team-mate George Russell.

[venkyhere]

why is the F1 media in a meltdown over the 'points gap antonelli has' ?
-43 is no big deal after 5 races in a 22 race season. Russel has to score +7 over his team mate in 6/17 races that are remaining, and this -43 will vanish.
Why is the media so fickle ?