The Briton said rumors about internal preferences are "false" and that both drivers have the right to compete. Russell trusts he can keep progressing to beat Antonelli and the Ferraris.
George Russell has flatly denied that there is favoritism towards his teammate Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes. The Briton said rumors about internal preferences are "false" and that he trusts he can keep progressing to beat the Italian and the Ferraris: "I've heard there have been rumors of favoritism towards Kimi, they don't worry me because they're not true. When I was younger maybe I would have wanted to respond differently to that accusation but there are 2,000 people in the team and they all get a bonus if we win the constructors' championship" declared Russell.
The Mercedes driver has had an irregular start to the season with problems finding the right feel with the W17, while Antonelli has led the championship with five wins in the first races. Despite the Italian having scored two zeros in the last three races and Russell having closed the gap, rumors about a possible favoritism towards Antonelli have grown in the paddock.
Russell has wanted to settle the debate and assure that there is no problem in the team: "We want a one two, regardless of the order, so why would there be favoritism? Both drivers have the right to compete unless the team's main objective, which is to score as many points as possible, is at risk" said the Briton.
The Mercedes driver also referred to the management of the internal battle in the team and assured that there is no comparison with other teams where there has been favoritism: "Favoritism is a concept totally alien to an F1 team except in certain known cases like Red Bull or Ferrari in the past, when Michael Schumacher was their driver" concluded Russell.
Antonelli's arrival at Mercedes in 2025 was a surprise for many, the Italian was chosen over other drivers like Carlos Sainz to replace Lewis Hamilton. Russell, who had already been in the team for several years, became the team leader but the emergence of the young Italian has changed the plans.
Russell trusts that the team can resolve the problems he has had with the W17 and that he can return to fighting for wins. The Briton has shown in the past that he can win races and that he can compete with the best, and he hopes that the second half of the season will be more favorable.
Russell has made it clear that there is no favoritism at Mercedes, he stated that he trusts his talent to close the gap, fight for the title and the internal battle promises to be exciting, with both drivers competing on equal terms.
