George Russell should now be very worried after his ‘unusual’ Brazilian Grand Prix occurrence

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George Russell is now officially out of the 2025 F1 drivers’ title fight after slipping 114 points behind Lando Norris in the championship after Sunday’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

The Mercedes star was still mathematically in the fight before the 21st round of the 2025 F1 season in Brazil last weekend. But Russell only secured P3 as Norris won the F1 Sprint in Sao Paulo and also finished P4 while the McLaren ace won the Grand Prix to strengthen his lead.

Norris now leads his papaya Oscar Piastri by 24 points and Red Bull rival Max Verstappen by 49 with a maximum of 83 remaining this year. Rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s career-best P2 in the Sao Paulo GP did at least strengthen Mercedes’ P2 in the constructors’ championship.

Mercedes might trail McLaren atop the F1 constructors’ standings by 358 points with three rounds remaining, but the Brackley bunch boast a 32-point lead over Red Bull and 36-point lead over Ferrari. There are a maximum of 144 points remaining for teams to score in 2025.

George Russell should fear Kimi Antonelli as a 2026 F1 title rival after the Sao Paulo Grand Prix

Russell and Mercedes will have already identified next season as their term to win either or both championships together, though. Mercedes are widely expected to head the field with the 2026 F1 regulations, which will bring new engine, aerodynamics, chassis and tyre rules.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about the 2026 F1 engine and aero regulations

But while Mercedes’ 2026 F1 rules engine is expected to be the best power unit on the grid, and thus hand the Silver Arrows a huge advantage, Russell should now fear Antonelli posing a threat to him in the drivers’ championship during what will be the Italian’s second season.

Antonelli showed in Sao Paulo that he has overcome his mid-season rookie wobble and that he is ready to fight at the front of the field. Norris beat Antonelli to win the Sao Paulo Sprint by only 0.845s after withstanding his pressure, while Russell came home 2.318s adrift in P3.

While Russell held off Piastri to claim P4 in the feature race, Antonelli denied Verstappen P2 in the Sao Paulo GP by just 0.362s, as well. The 19-year-old, who also qualified P2 for the F1 Sprint and Grand Prix in Brazil, perfectly utilised his battery to prevent an overtaking chance.

Kimi Antonelli has beaten George Russell in back-to-back Grands Prix for the first time

Sao Paulo saw Antonelli out-qualify Russell for a Grand Prix for only the third time during his rookie campaign on Saturday. Sunday’s race was also just the second time that Antonelli has finished a Grand Prix in front of Russell following the Mexico City Grand Prix one round prior.

READ MORE: Mercedes driver George Russell’s life outside F1 from net worth to height

Antonelli secured P6 in the Mexico City GP, while Russell came home 2.450s behind in P7, to finish the Briton’s 100% record in their head-to-head battle. The Bologna boy then backed it up in Brazil, as he beat Russell in the two qualifying sessions, the Sprint and the Grand Prix.

Rookie Antonelli beating seven-year veteran Russell during every session except for the sole practice session on Friday stunned Marc Surer. He told Motorsport-Total about Russell’s Sao Paulo GP weekend: “It’s unusual for him to be so thoroughly outplayed by his teammate.”

Ralf Schumacher suggested Antonelli being faster in Mexico “frustrated” Russell, too, having grown irate over Mercedes’ radio as he pleaded for team orders to get in front of the Italian. Any discomfort that Antonelli may have given Russell in Mexico would have grown in Brazil.