George Russell has responded defiantly following a challenging Miami Grand Prix, where he crossed the line more than 43 seconds adrift of Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli.
The British driver now sits 20 points behind the Italian sensation after four rounds of the championship, having entered the season as the bookmakers’ favourite for the title.
Speaking after Sunday’s race, Russell told Sky Sports F1: “I’ve still got confidence in myself and have also been there. I’ve not forgotten how to drive.
“It’s just a little bit of a tricky run but we are four races down, a long way to go.”
George Russell insisted he will give Kimi Antonelli his all in a tense Mercedes battle
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Russell’s struggles have coincided with a remarkable run of form from his 19-year-old teammate, who has claimed victory in the last three consecutive grands prix.
Antonelli’s achievement is unprecedented in Formula 1 history – no driver before him has won their first three grand prix victories from pole position.
The Briton was quick to acknowledge his teammate’s abilities, stating: “He [Antonelli] is a fantastic driver and has been exceptionally quick since day one.
“He’s won all of the championships as a youngster.”
Russell added that Antonelli possesses undeniable speed, pointing to his junior career success as evidence of his natural talent.
Kimi Antonelli won the Miami Grand Prix, winning three grand prixs in a row
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During Sunday’s race, Russell made significant alterations to his car setup in the closing stages, adjusting his differentials and brake bias to settings closer to those Antonelli had been using throughout the weekend.
“It made a bigger impact than I thought,” Russell explained, noting improved competitiveness in the final ten laps.
The 26-year-old remains convinced that fortune will eventually turn in his favour, pointing to the previous rounds in China and Japan where he believes he possessed race-winning pace but circumstances conspired against him.
“I could be standing here now with three very different results from the last three races,” Russell reflected. “But that’s Formula 1 sometimes.”
Former world champion Jenson Button believes Russell will have been taken aback by Antonelli’s performances but expects the Briton to respond strongly at the Canadian Grand Prix later this month.
George Russell had been the title favourite before a race had been driven
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“I think George is probably thinking, ‘what just happened?'” Button said. “He was the favourite, the quickest at the start of the year.”
Sky Sports F1 pundit Naomi Schiff suggested Russell can draw comfort from the fact that Antonelli has not been flawless, citing the Italian’s track limits penalty during Saturday’s Sprint.
“Maybe George’s consistency is what helps him out,” Schiff observed, whilst acknowledging he must contend with his teammate’s raw pace.
