George Russell copies Antonelli setup in Miami, overtaking Verstappen and Leclerc after late-race turnaround – Russell revealed that copying key setup elements from his teammate Antonelli transformed his race pace at the Miami Grand Prix, enabling him to overtake Verstappen and Leclerc in the closing stages.
The Mercedes driver described the impact as immediate and greater than expected, having struggled for most of the race.
Late-race setup change unlocks performance
Russell endured a challenging start to the race in Miami, particularly after an early pit stop left him stuck in traffic. Running on hard compound tyres, he lacked the performance needed to move forward through the field.
“It was a tough race,” Russell told Sky F1. “The first few laps were okay, but the hard tyre just wasn’t performing. The last ten laps were much more competitive.”
The turnaround came after Russell made significant set-up adjustments during the latter stages of the race. By aligning his car more closely with Antonelli’s configuration, he was able to get more out of the tyres and improve the car’s balance.
Differential and brake balance proved decisive
Russell explained that the changes focused primarily on differential settings and brake balance — two areas that play a critical role in tyre management and cornering behaviour.
“I made pretty big changes to my differential and brake balance,” he said. “It came much closer to what Kimi Antonelli drove all weekend.”
The effect was immediate. Russell quickly closed the gap to Verstappen and Leclerc, who were battling ahead of him, successfully overtaking both drivers to secure fourth place.
Such adjustments are particularly important on a circuit like Miami, where traction out of slow corners is paramount. A more aggressive differential setup can improve drive on corner exit, while brake balance influences stability and tyre wear under heavy braking.
Antonelli’s influence within Mercedes is growing
Antonelli’s strong performances have quickly established him as a benchmark within Mercedes. The Italian secured his third victory of the season in Miami, further strengthening his position at the top of the drivers’ standings.
Russell’s decision to adopt his teammate’s setup highlights how quickly the internal dynamic is evolving. Similar situations have occurred in the past, notably during the 2016 season, when Nico Rosberg frequently analysed Lewis Hamilton’s data in order to close performance gaps.
What stands out in this case is the speed of adaptation. Just four races into the season, Russell is already turning to Antonelli’s data to stay competitive.
Despite his strong points tally, championship pressure is building
Russell now has 80 points after four races, 20 points behind Antonelli. While this deficit is not yet critical, the consistency and pace of his teammate are putting him under increasing pressure.
Mercedes leads the constructors’ championship with 180 points, highlighting the car’s overall competitiveness. However, Antonelli has been the standout performer internally.
Russell acknowledged the challenge, but dismissed any suggestion that he had underestimated his teammate.
“Not at all. He’s a fantastic driver,” he said. “He has been fast from day one. You don’t win all those championships as a youngster unless you’re fast.”
Despite a difficult weekend, Russell remains confident
Despite his late progress, Russell admitted that the Miami circuit continues to present him with challenges.
“This circuit has always been very difficult for me,” he said.
He also made it clear that he has confidence in his ability to bounce back.
“I still have confidence in myself, and I have been there before. I haven’t forgotten how to drive. It’s just a difficult period, but we’ve only done four races. There is still a long way to go.”
Russell confirmed that Mercedes will analyse the situation in the coming weeks, with the aim of closing the gap.
“We are going to re-evaluate everything,” he added.
His willingness to adopt Antonelli’s approach signals a pragmatic mindset as he seeks to match the current benchmark set by his teammate.
Opinion: Does Russell’s explanation downplay Antonelli’s performance?
Russell’s comments raise an interesting question about how Kimi Antonelli’s performances are framed. By suggesting that copying setup elements alone unlocked significant pace, there is a risk of unintentionally downplaying the Italian’s impact. It could be perceived that Antonelli’s advantage is largely due to “settings” rather than driving execution.
This becomes an even more sensitive issue given the ongoing criticism of the 2026 Formula 1 cars, which some have labelled as overly artificial or ‘Mario Kart-like’ due to their complex systems and tools. In this context, the idea that performance gaps can be closed by copying configurations could reinforce the perception that results are more influenced by engineering choices than driver input.
However, setups are only part of the equation. Consistency, confidence, and adaptability are still required to extract performance — areas in which Antonelli has clearly excelled so far.
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With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
