P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell’s Mercedes contract situation may be distracting him during his 2026 F1 title fight with Kimi Antonelli
Juan Pablo Montoya believes that George Russell’s mindset in the 2026 title fight with Kimi Antonelli may be impacted by his Mercedes contract situation.
Russell was expected to lead Mercedes after Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari, but Antonelli has emerged as a strong contender early in the season.
Montoya suggests that Russell needs to focus on matching Kimi’s performance and not get distracted by external factors.
Despite acknowledging Russell’s speed, Montoya feels the Brit may be preoccupied with contract uncertainties and distractions from his teammate.
The ongoing speculation about Max Verstappen potentially joining Mercedes only adds more pressure to Russell’s already complex situation.
