Russell’s management spoke with other teams during contract talks
NXTbets Pro | Published On: October 26, 2026
Russell struggles
Mercedes driver George Russell left the United States Grand Prix with frustration and few answers. He finished eighth, 54 seconds behind Kimi Antonelli, and said his pace was “rubbish” after a race that never settled into rhythm. Russell could not explain the performance and pointed to a poor opening stint as the main problem. He said he was much slower than Antonelli early and lost ground to other cars, which set him back before the race found its shape. The damage carried through the afternoon. Russell spent the final 26 laps stuck behind a McLaren and never found a way through. He also picked up a five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage while battling Oscar Piastri. The result left him with a blunt assessment of his own day and a clear sense that the pace in the Mercedes never matched what he expected.
Mercedes response
Antonelli gave Mercedes a much different story in Austin. He took pole position and won the United States Grand Prix decisively, then opened up a 123-point lead over Russell with 125 points still available. The scale of that gap added weight to a strong weekend for the young driver and to the team’s work on the car. Mercedes’ upgrade package appeared to work on Antonelli’s machine in Austin, and the W17 looked more competitive after the changes. Toto Wolff praised the performance and said Russell struggles when the car is outside his preferred operating window, a reminder of how tightly the team has tried to balance its package around the needs of both drivers. Wolff also said Russell is capable of winning at the highest level, which kept the focus on performance rather than blame. He described Antonelli’s Austin drive as “the race of a champion who isn’t the champion yet.” The line fit the weekend. Antonelli delivered the pace, the pole and the win, while Russell was left trying to recover from a race that never came together.
Contract questions
Russell’s remarks after the race added another layer to an already sensitive period. He said he no longer cared where he finished in the championship and that the Constructors’ Championship was his main concern. That shifted the focus from his own points total to Mercedes’ broader fight. The comments also came after James Hinchcliffe suggested Russell could consider other options. Russell’s management had previously spoken with other teams during contract talks, which keeps the driver market around him active even as Mercedes sorts out its own priorities. The timing matters because Russell’s result in Austin came in the same weekend Antonelli pushed his title-case further and Mercedes showed clear progress on the car. For Russell, the race exposed a day of poor pace and missed chances. For Mercedes, it underlined a team that can produce front-running speed when the package works. The next step is clear for everyone involved. Russell needs a stronger response on track. Mercedes has a faster car to build around. And the contract picture around one of its lead drivers remains part of the conversation.
