Russell's statements and body language showed, once it was clear the Mercedes' W17 was a powerful machine, and after he won the opening race in Melbourne, that he believed he had a maiden Formula 1 Title in the bag. But…
Former Formula 1 driver Johnny Herbert has commented on the Mercedes driver dynamic, stating that Kimi Antonelli has been highly consistent while George Russell has been "a little up and down" during the 2026 season. Antonelli currently leads the Formula 1 Drivers' Standings by 81 points over his teammate Russell, having secured eight race victories so far this season.
Herbert noted that Russell has struggled to find consistency and has suggested the Mercedes W17 car does not suit him as well as it does Antonelli. While acknowledging that Antonelli has benefited from some luck, such as Virtual Safety Car and Red Flag periods in Madrid and Monza, Herbert emphasized that this does not diminish the young driver's impressive performances.
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