British driver George Russell and Italian Kimi Antonelli signed contract extensions with Mercedes for next season, but a former F1 driver has warned the team it risks building a “Daniel Ricciardo(-like) resentment” in Russell.
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Russell, who won the Singapore Grand Prix earlier this month, will race full-time for the team in F1 for a fifth year.
The 27-year-old’s future with Mercedes was in doubt earlier this season with reigning four-time world champion Max Verstappen briefly linked with a move from Red Bull.
According to reports, Verstappen had a break clause in his contract allowing him to leave Red Bull if he was outside the top three in the championship prior to August’s summer break.
But Verstappen has only solidified his position in third place in the standings since and confirmed at the end of July he would stay with the team for 2026.
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Antonelli, meanwhile, is in his first season at Mercedes having replaced Lewis Hamilton.
While Russell is staying put for now, former F1 driver Derek Daly said there will still be doubts over his long-term future with the team and that the Verstappen links could have a similar impact on the Brit to what Ricciardo went through at Red Bull.
“I think George Russell has amazing speed,” Daly told RacingNews365.
“Unfortunately, Toto has now built a bit of a Daniel Ricciardo(-like) resentment within George Russell.
“Toto Wolff has already told George Russell, ‘Yeah, you’re good. We like you – but we’d change it in a heartbeat’.
“That is, in essence, what Red Bull told Daniel Ricardo and I think it’ll take a bit of time to recover from that.”
Russell has enjoyed a strong 2025 campaign so far, sitting fourth in the drivers’ standings, 99 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri.
He has posted eight podium finishes, including victories at the Canadian Grand Prix in June and in Singapore last time out.
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SAINZ STANDS BY COMMENTS THAT WERE ‘BLOWN OUT OF PROPORTION’
Spaniard Carlos Sainz stood by his criticism of the television coverage of this month’s Singapore Grand Prix, and added he was unimpressed by the “viral” global over-reaction to his comments.
He said he had not wished to cause any offence by observing there had been too much focus on celebrities and girlfriends at the expense of the racing on October 5.
“My comments were a bit blown out of proportion,” he said before this weekend’s United States Grand Prix in Austin.
“The fact that I mentioned the girlfriends, or the WAGs (wives and girlfriends), or whatever you like to call them, brought a bit of spice to the comment and it went more viral worldwide.
“In Singapore the broadcaster didn’t do a good job. I mean there are other races where they do an incredible job and show us things, incredible things and track action, but for Singapore it was not good,” the 31-year-old added.
Sainz stood by his comments. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Sainz’s comments were widely published after the Singapore race. A spokesperson for Formula One reacted to Sainz’s observations, defending the sport’s television coverage and said they sought to balance important moments with reactions from grandstands, high profile guests and locations.
Sainz has been in good form for Williams in recent races and carved through the field on his way to finishing 10th from 18th on the grid at Singapore.
“They missed way too much track action, but that doesn’t mean it’s a criticism of them or the way they do their job,” he said.
“It’s a shame that on a track where it’s so difficult to overtake, they missed so many on-track battles.
“I hope they didn’t take it personally or take it too hard, because it was just a simple critique of Singapore, which was not good enough.”
‘Not Oscar!’ Max fires cheeky Norris dig | 01:07
ALONSO NOT RULING OUT LATE VERSTAPPEN THREAT TO PIASTRI
Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso said Max Verstappen was capable of overhauling Oscar Piastri’s 63-point advantage to claim a sensational fifth drivers’ world title this year.
The Aston Martin driver did not go so far as to forecast the four-time champion would succeed, but stressed that if anyone could do it, it was Verstappen.
“It’s difficult to say, or to guess, who can win the championship,” said Alonso, speaking to reporters ahead of this weekend’s United States Grand Prix.
“The two McLarens have a little bit of an advantage because of the points and I would say it’s between the two of them.
“But Max is an incredible driver. He is one of the best drivers in the history of the sport.
“He’s obviously fighting against a superior car, which is the McLaren, but if it comes to the last race or whatever and they are tight on points, maybe in that moment he becomes the man to follow.”
Alonso also pointed at the increased pressure the title contenders will face in the final six races of the season.
Verstappen said he was taking it “race by race” and was “not really thinking about it” when asked about his title challenge.
McLaren clash on the way to Constructors | 01:06
HEAT WARNING FOR RACE
The upcoming United States Grand Prix was declared a heat hazard event, making it the second race in succession to be labelled as potentially dangerous by ruling body the International Motoring Federation (FIA).
In a statement, race director Rui Marques said an official weather forecast had predicted a heat index higher than 31 degrees Celsius during the sprint and Grand Prix race.
The announcement, which was also made at the Singapore Grand Prix two weeks ago, enables a rule that allows drivers to take up an option to wear cooling vests that circulate cool liquid to control core body temperatures in their cars.
The ruling on declaring a heat hazard race was introduced following the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix, which left many drivers suffering adversely from high temperatures and humidity.
But the vests, which are scheduled to be a mandatory feature at heat hazard events next year, are not popular with all the drivers.
Those that take up the option must have 500 grams of ballast added to their cars in order to avoid any competitive advantage.
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull explained in Singapore why he did not intend to take a vest.
“I haven’t used it and I am not intending to because I feel like this is a driver’s choice,” the Dutchman said.