Damon Hill has raised questions about George Russell’s current form at Mercedes, suggesting the British driver “has gone missing” following a difficult Miami Grand Prix weekend that saw his teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli claim his third victory of the 2026 season.
The 1996 world champion made the comments on The Chequered Flag podcast alongside fellow former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya, as the pair analysed the growing performance gap between the two Mercedes drivers in the opening phase of the season.
Antonelli’s Dominant Start
Antonelli’s Miami triumph marks his third win in what has been a sensational rookie campaign for the Italian. The 19-year-old, who replaced Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes for 2026, has quickly established himself as a front-runner in the new regulatory era, adapting impressively to both the team and the heavily revised technical regulations.
The contrast with Russell’s struggles has become increasingly stark. While Antonelli has thrived under the new aerodynamic and power unit rules introduced this season, Russell has appeared to lose his way at a team where he previously flourished as the lead driver.
Questions Over Russell’s Mindset
Hill’s “gone missing” assessment suggests concern not just about Russell’s on-track performance, but about his mental approach to the challenge of having a highly competitive teammate. The seven-time grand prix winner has experience of the psychological pressures that come when a team’s internal dynamic shifts unexpectedly.
Russell arrived at Mercedes in 2022 as the designated future leader following Hamilton’s eventual departure, and spent three seasons building the team around him. Antonelli’s immediate speed and race-winning form may have disrupted that narrative more dramatically than anyone anticipated.
Mercedes’ New Dynamic
The situation presents Mercedes with both an opportunity and a challenge. Team principal Toto Wolff has a driver capable of fighting for wins immediately, but also needs Russell to rediscover the form that made him one of the grid’s most highly rated performers during the previous regulatory cycle.
With the 2026 season still in its early stages, Russell has time to respond. The next race at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola on May 18 will provide an immediate opportunity to answer his critics and reassert himself alongside a teammate who has taken the paddock by storm.