Peter Windsor questions George Russell’s mentality after Miami qualifying setback – Russell has been sharply criticised by Windsor after another disappointing qualifying performance in Miami, where he was outperformed by his teammate Antonelli once again.
Once seen as the clear title favourite, the British driver now faces growing scrutiny over both his form and mindset as the intra-team battle intensifies.
Russell failed to respond after a difficult run
Mercedes entered the 2026 season with what appeared to be the strongest package on the grid, placing Russell at the heart of the title conversation. As the more experienced driver, it was expected that he would lead the team’s charge.
While he did open the campaign with a victory, the momentum has since shifted. Antonelli beat Russell twice during the Asian double-header, raising questions early on about the established hierarchy within the team.
Windsor suggested that the April break offered Russell an opportunity to reset.
“If your younger team-mate starts beating you while you’re driving the best car, it’s good to have the April break to reflect on things and then return in Miami,” he explained.
However, any anticipated resurgence failed to materialise.
Windsor: “Top athletes should never think like that…”
Russell endured another difficult session in Miami, qualifying only fifth, while Antonelli secured a third consecutive pole position. The Briton also struggled in the sprint qualifying session, admitting afterwards that he was not surprised to be beaten again.
He identified Miami as one of his weaker circuits, stating that every driver has tracks where they underperform.
This drew a strong response from Windsor: “George Russell doesn’t call this his best circuit, but top athletes should never think like that,” he said.
The analyst also questioned the validity of Russell’s claim, describing the Miami circuit as relatively straightforward.
“For top drivers, Miami is a fairly straightforward circuit. There’s nothing special about it. So Russell should have come to Miami aiming to restore the balance within the team and re-establish himself as the title favourite.”
Antonelli delivers Verstappen-level performance
Instead, the spotlight firmly shifted onto Antonelli, who continued his remarkable rise. The Italian became only the third driver after Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher to secure his first three pole positions across consecutive race weekends.
Windsor highlighted the technical qualities behind Antonelli’s performance.
“Kimi has always been brilliant in the slow corners,” he noted. “He has the same feel as Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc or Lewis Hamilton at their peak.”
However, what stood out most in Miami was the breadth of Antonelli’s advantage. According to Windsor, the young driver not only excelled in the slow sections, but also outperformed Russell in the medium and high-speed corners — areas that are traditionally considered to be the Brit’s strength.
Technical contrast exposes Russell’s weaknesses
Windsor pointed out clear differences in the two Mercedes drivers’ driving approaches during their fastest laps in Q3.
“In their fastest laps, you could see that George was understeering in the tight corners. He was asking too much of the car. When he came onto that straight, the rear of the car broke away. That’s typical of George Russell. It probably felt fast to him,” he explained.
By contrast, Antonelli displayed greater precision and control.
“He turned in a bit earlier and had no understeer. Coming out of the corner, he hit the throttle just like Sergio Pérez. He was just as strong under traction as Max Verstappen today.”
The result was a significant gap, with Antonelli finishing four tenths of a second ahead despite having identical machinery.
While Windsor acknowledged external factors such as wind and heat, he dismissed them as excuses, noting that such conditions should favour the more experienced driver.
“There are mitigating factors, such as the wind and the heat, but those should actually work in George’s favour. After all, he’s the more experienced driver and he’s good at handling an unstable rear end, yet Kimi still did it better.”
Title implications begin to shift
With Antonelli now consistently outperforming Russell, the internal dynamics at Mercedes are shifting rapidly. What began as a clear pecking order is evolving into one of the most closely watched battles on the grid.
For Russell, the concern is no longer a single poor session, but an emerging pattern. His inability to respond decisively to Antonelli’s rise is beginning to impact his standing in the title fight.
Meanwhile, Antonelli’s impressive performances are establishing him as one of the sport’s elite, both statistically and stylistically, and reinforcing the idea that a new contender has arrived at the forefront of Formula 1.
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Clara Marlowe is a Formula 1 writer at TJ13 with over 15 years of experience in motorsport journalism, having contributed features to established sports magazines such as Evo, MCN, Wisden Cricket Monthly and other digital outlets.
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At TJ13, Clara contributes long-form features and narrative-driven pieces that explore the personal and professional journeys within Formula 1. This includes coverage of career-defining moments, internal team dynamics, and the human impact of high-pressure competition.
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