Martin Brundle, former Formula 1 driver and Sky Sports F1 analyst, said George Russell, the Mercedes driver, "lost his head a little bit" after the Japanese Grand Prix restart that cost him positions.
Russell began 2026 as an early favourite for Mercedes with wins in Australia and the Chinese sprint, but Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli won the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix to take the championship lead. During the Japanese race Russell pitted just before a safety car and reported battery issues on the restart while questioning Antonelli's actions over team radio.
On the Sky Sports F1 Show, Brundle said Russell appeared frustrated and out of position on the restart, costing a race he had under control and leaving him needing a reset. Brundle added that Russell heads to Miami nine points behind Kimi Antonelli and urged treating Antonelli as a genuine championship threat.
This report is based on information originally published by Motorsport.
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