P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell did not enjoy his most comfortable F1 grand prix weekend in Japan, leading to criticism from multi-time race winner Ralf Schumacher.
Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher has criticized George Russell’s performance at the Japanese Grand Prix, pointing out a mistake during the qualifying session which cost him pole position. Russell had a strong start to the 2025 season with podium finishes in Australia and China. However, Schumacher believes Russell’s potential was not fully realized due to the qualifying error. Schumacher suggested that Russell’s current contract with Mercedes may not be extended based on his performance in Japan. He compared Russell’s performance to that of Max Verstappen, emphasizing the importance of consistency and error-free driving in becoming a world champion in Formula 1.
