Antonelli has already become the 'number 1' at Mercedes - Schumacher

      "Antonelli will increasingly gain their attention."

      George Russell is facing increasing pressure after being decisively outperformed by his teenage teammate Kimi Antonelli throughout 2026. The 19-year-old Italian has clinched victory in the last three races from pole position and is currently 20 points ahead of Russell in the world championship, heightening scrutiny within the dominant Mercedes team.

      "I have to be completely honest, Kimi Antonelli completely outclassed George Russell in Miami," Ralf Schumacher remarked on Sky Deutschland. "That’s just a fact. The gaps were significant, particularly in terms of lap times."

      Schumacher feels that the internal dynamics at Mercedes are swiftly changing. "For Toto Wolff, this situation is ideal because he now has his number 1 driver," he continued. "His number 1, who can contend for the World Championship, and Russell, who can still score points. That’s the current situation."

      "And now there will be other developments within the team - they will start to heed Antonelli’s input more and more. Additionally, he evidently has a substantial influence alongside his race engineer," Schumacher noted, referencing the renowned Peter 'Bono' Bonnington.

      "It will be intriguing for Russell to see if he can reverse his fortunes. I think he will find it challenging."

      Schumacher believes Russell's attitude has noticeably shifted. "Russell is an exceptional F1 driver and, given his experience, has a viable chance of competing for the championship," he said. "However, it’s evident that things aren’t progressing as smoothly as they once did, and he seems to be questioning himself."

      "His teammate is currently quicker, and he appears tense. The situation reminds me of Oscar Piastri last year." He even critiqued Russell’s approach to his public image. "From my perspective, Russell isn’t being authentic," Schumacher stated. "George is putting on a facade with his English politeness."

      "And at this moment, it seems to be backfiring on him, as he’s not being true to himself. I believe it would benefit him to express his true feelings."

      "He could candidly discuss the situation - everyone can see from the outside that things aren’t going well." Meanwhile, Antonelli has acknowledged that his competitors no longer regard him as a rookie. "Last year, Verstappen and Hamilton were very open and offered me assistance," he told Bild newspaper. "But now they’ve stopped."