Pre-season F1 favourite Russell ‘not up to the task’

Mercedes driver George Russell arrived at the 2025 Formula One season as the frontrunner, following his impressive performance in early testing. With his victory in the opening race in Australia, he was universally hailed as the team's future world champion, destined to succeed Lewis Hamilton. However, the Englishman's season quickly took a downturn as his teammate, 20-year-old Kimi Antonelli, began to dominate the competition.

Despite a promising start with pole position and a sprint win at the second event in China, Russell failed to capitalize on his early advantage, ultimately losing to Antonelli in Mexico. The Englishman's sixth-place finish, coupled with a 10-second penalty for bumping Isack Hadjar, further hampered his chances of retaining the lead.

Throughout the season, Russell has struggled with both mistakes and misfortune, including retirements in Canada, Malaysia, and Belgium. In contrast, Antonelli has benefited from safety car interventions, including a victory in Madrid. While Russell has shown flashes of his former self with strong drives in Austria and Azerbaijan, the gap between the two drivers has become increasingly evident, as seen in his second-place finish in Monza.

In light of his disappointing season, Russell has admitted to feeling numb with disappointment and acknowledged that the season's outcome will not define his career.