Albers refers to Russell as 'soft' during the Antonelli rise.

      "All you need to do is loosen the steering a bit."

      Christijan Albers has labeled George Russell as "soft" amidst an increasing discussion regarding the experienced Mercedes driver’s ability to cope with the pressures from championship leader and teenage teammate Kimi Antonelli. Although Russell is expected to establish his dominance as the season progresses thanks to his experience, the initial part of 2026 has seen the 19-year-old Italian gain the advantage.

      Former F1 driver Albers, in an interview with De Telegraaf, expressed criticism of Russell’s tactics in head-to-head encounters, especially against Oscar Piastri in Suzuka. He said, "Just look at how he was overtaken again in the second corner. You already saw it with Piastri."

      "All you need to do is slightly adjust the steering, and Piastri becomes a professional lawnmower. He has nowhere to go. He’s on the outside. You won’t be penalized for it. You don’t gain anything from that."

      "He’s soft," asserted the Dutchman. Albers believes this issue isn't a rare occurrence, highlighting a similar trend in China. "That happened in China too. It's the second time now. I get the impression he thinks, ‘I’ll catch up with him later; I won’t take any risks at this moment.’"