Russell rejects assertions that Antonelli is Wolff's preferred choice.
George Russell kicked off the Hungarian GP weekend by asserting that Mercedes is not showing favoritism towards championship leader Kimi Antonelli, calling the narrative "nonsense" and claiming it is driven by the media. Russell expressed his anger following his retirement on the first lap at Spa, which was due to an electrical failure that made him susceptible to colliding with Lewis Hamilton. "Guys, unacceptable," he said on the radio after exiting the race. "Un-f***ing-acceptable this whole weekend."
Former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher later suggested that Russell had "cracked" under the pressure from his young teammate, who left Belgium with a 50-point lead in the championship. However, Russell and Antonelli have since traveled to Budapest together, with Russell posting a smiling photo of them on a private jet on Instagram. He now maintains that the notion of a rift within the team is far from accurate.
"The media is always looking for the best story to attract clicks and sell newspapers," he told Sport Bild. "If they wrote the truth, they would likely struggle to meet their targets." When asked about the narrative being presented, he replied: "I think that’s nonsense."
"Kimi is not receiving preferential treatment. I know the reality and how much I’m valued within the team. Toto doesn’t have a favorite driver." Russell stated that his approach to Antonelli has remained unchanged even with the teenager now being a direct competitor in the championship.
"I treated Kimi with the same respect last year as I do this year, just as I did with Lewis in previous years. It doesn’t matter if someone is in their first season in Formula 1 or is a seven-time world champion. Whoever my teammate is, he is the one I share the garage and engineering meetings with, and he is the one I aim to beat."
He emphasized that Mercedes cannot afford any secrecy among its drivers, especially while they continue to learn about the new generation of cars and power units. "There are no secrets between us because we can't afford that as a team," said the 28-year-old Russell. "We learn so much about this new generation of cars every weekend that if we were to hold back, the competition would surpass us."
Despite Antonelli's increasing lead, Russell has not abandoned his own championship aspirations. "I've been on pole position in nearly half the races this year, but I’ve only won two Grands Prix," he remarked. "That demonstrates I have the speed necessary to win the World Championship." Russell also dismissed the renewed rumors that Max Verstappen might take his Mercedes seat in 2027. "I’ll be driving for Mercedes in 2027," he asserted confidently. "It’s the same situation—many think they know the truth, but in reality, only a few do."
"I have a contract for next year, and that settles it."
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