Lando Norris
McLaren
Mercedes
Red Bull
Ferrari
Williams
Racing Bulls
Aston Martin
Haas
Alpine
Jolyon Palmer has questioned George Russell’s racecraft after watching the Mercedes driver battle Oscar Piastri at the Miami Grand Prix.
Russell missed out on the podium for a second consecutive race, finishing fourth as his teammate Kimi Antonelli bagged a third consecutive win. Losing out to Piastri at the early safety-car restart was a crucial moment in his race.
Piastri ambitiously attacked Russell around the outside of the first corner, and while the Mercedes driver applied the squeeze, there was enough room for the McLaren to inch ahead on the inside of turn two.
Some brilliant performances in South Beach! But who is your Driver of the Day for the Miami Grand Prix?
Jolyon Palmer baffled by George Russell giving Oscar Piastri so much space
Commentating on the race for F1TV, Palmer said the move ‘shouldn’t have been possible’ because Russell was ‘entitled’ to shut the door.
Piastri went on to finish third, while Russell did at least gain a couple of positions in the closing stages as he passed Max Verstappen and a hobbled Charles Leclerc, who had damage after hitting the wall.
Russell was accused of being a ‘softy’ after letting Lando Norris, the other McLaren driver, pass him around the outside at the start of the Japanese GP last time out. His meek defence here will only fuel the narrative that he needs to be more aggressive.
Is George Russell RUTHLESS enough to win an F1 title?
“That was kind from Russell, I think, to allow Piastri through,” said Palmer. “That move shouldn’t have been possible, the way that they were lining up.
“But he just gave Oscar the space and he had the drive on the exit. It’s another miserable safety car restart for George Russell.
“I am amazed that he was just allowing the McLaren through. He could have shut the door, he would have been entitled to do that.”
Toto Wolff calls George Russell a ‘killer’, but does he lack ruthlessness?
At Suzuka, the timing of the safety car rather spoiled Russell’s race because he had already made his pit stop. It played perfectly into the hands of Antonelli.
Perhaps he momentarily lost focus because Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton was able to pass him at the restart. While Russell later regained the position, he ultimately lost out to Charles Leclerc in the battle for the last podium place.
Toto Wolff has warned Antonelli that Russell is a ‘killer’ but, since his dominant win at the Australian GP in March, he hasn’t necessarily shown that on track.
Russell insists he hasn’t underestimated Antonelli, but after three straight defeats, a change in approach may be necessary if he’s to reassert himself as Mercedes’ lead driver.
Receive exclusive F1 news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
