Palmer picks out ‘huge problem’ for Russell in title fight

Former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer has highlighted the significant challenges facing George Russell at Mercedes, noting that his consistent lack of pace compared to teammate Kimi Antonelli is a major obstacle in his title bid. Despite being only 25 points behind in the standings, Russell has struggled to match Antonelli's ability to drive at the car's limit, with team data suggesting he is 'under-driving' compared to the Italian rookie. While Toto Wolff acknowledges that Russell is currently struggling to gel with the car, Palmer emphasizes that Antonelli possesses an innate feel for grip that allows him to execute strong qualifying laps immediately. Although both drivers have dealt with reliability issues, Palmer suggests that Antonelli's adaptability puts him in a better position to maximize results, leaving Russell with the difficult task of rediscovering his form to challenge for the championship.