George Russell concedes a 66‑point deficit to teammate Kimi Antonelli after the Italian won the Monza Grand Prix, ending any realistic title comeback hopes.
Monza Twist: Antonelli Battles and Triumphs Over Russell
Starting 19th, Antonelli’s start was a lowpoint that flipped the race. By lap 6 after a restart he vaulted to sixth, using that position as a launchpad to contest Russell for the win.
The Italian overtook Russell on lap 19 and exchanged positions a few times. A VSC on lap 53 forced the front‑raners into a cheap pit stop; Antonelli’s domestic medium‑tyre pit ran faster than Russell’s hard‑tyre order, allowing the rookie to catch the fading Brumby’s pace.
Awarding Antonelli the round, Mercedes’ 20‑year‑old now leads the title chase by 66 points, a stark contrast to the 59‑point gap before the race.
Russell acknowledges the gap, stating, “I’m not even thinking about a comeback. I’m just focused on this race and achieving the best result I can.” He also praises Kimi’s performance as “deserving”.
Podium Strategy: Tyre Choices and VSC Impact
Mercedes opted a mixed strategy: Russell began on medium tyres then moved to hard to keep pace; Antonelli chose hard initially, then switched to medium at the VSC, which proved decisive.
Russell noted the hard compound held mileage best, allowing him to stay in the lead portion of the race. Yet Max Verstappen and Antonelli’s medium runs meant the VSC advantaged Antonelli’s pit stop line, leaving Russell with a fading tyre run.
Frustrated at the pitch of the strategy split, Russell said, “I saw Max and Kimi on medium, I felt good because I knew they would drop off more than me, so I was really happy with my position.”
A VSC’s timing could have altered the outcome; Russell admitted it would have been “very interesting to see how the race would have panned out if there was no VSC.”
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