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F1 Q&A: Mercedes, Russell and Antonelli, stewards' decisions and undercut v overcut
Following an enforced five-week break, the Formula 1 season resumed with Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli taking his third consecutive victory from pole position at the Miami Grand Prix.
The 19-year-old Italian now leads team-mate George Russell, who struggled for most of the weekend and finished fourth, by 20 points in the title race.
In the sprint event, world champion Lando Norris became the first non-Mercedes driver to win a race this season in the upgraded McLaren.
With Kimi Antonelli now showing his talent, and being a protege of Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, what does this mean for George Russell? – Gary
The start of the 2026 Formula 1 season has not been easy for George Russell. He entered the year as championship favourite, and four races in he is looking at a 20-point deficit to his team-mate Kimi Antonelli.
PALMER: How will Russell respond to Antonelli’s challenge?
Former F1 Driver Jolyon Palmer assesses how George Russell will respond following Kimi Antonelli's barnstorming Miami weekend.
Kimi Antonelli took his third Grand Prix win in succession during a statement weekend in Miami and it’s now that I think he’s really marked himself out as a serious championship contender – and the result will have George Russell scratching his head as to how he can respond.
Mercedes didn’t bring any significant upgrades to Miami, but they hoped that their previous buffer to their rivals would be enough for them to cling on at the front. That’s almost exactly as it panned out through the weekend for Antonelli.
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Russell reacts to F1 form flip amid Antonelli dominance
The veteran of seven seasons started the year with a win in Melbourne, leading a Silver Arrows one-two.
Antonelli flipped the script in Shanghai with his career-breakthrough F1 win – the first of three straight alongside success in Suzuka and Miami.
Russell was only fourth in the most recent Grands Prix, and was fourth in the Sprint at Miami too.
It’s not cause for concern, according to Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who said Miami has never been a strong suit for the Brit.
Russell has finished no higher than third in his four previous starts at the venue.
“George is so experienced by now. Throughout the weekend we talked that this is a bogey track for him and that is absolutely understood,” Wolff told Sky Sports F1.
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