Rosberg tells Russell to detach after 'scary' title defeat

George Russell’s title campaign ended in a painful and unfamiliar place: beaten by Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli, who sealed his maiden championship with four rounds to spare in Mexico City and became F1’s youngest ever champion. Toto Wolff said Russell was “distraught” and skipped post-race media duties, prompting Nico Rosberg to offer advice from his own experience of losing a title fight.

Why it matters:

Russell began the year as the favourite and strengthened that status by winning the opener in Australia. But Antonelli, after a difficult rookie season in 2025, found another gear and turned the championship into a one-sided contest. For Russell, the challenge now is mental as much as technical.

The details:

• Rosberg, who lost title battles to Lewis Hamilton in 2014 and 2015 before winning the 2016 crown, described Russell’s situation as “scary” because he cannot know whether the setback will carry into next season.
• His advice was blunt: “Get away from it and forget.” Rosberg wants Russell to leave the sport behind briefly over the winter, then return refreshed and ready to prepare for 2027.
• He also urged Russell to remember his best performances, calling him “one of the greatest drivers out there” and “exceptional at preparing himself.”
• The complication is obvious: Antonelli has proved he can match and beat Russell over a full campaign.

What’s next:

Russell’s response will define Mercedes’ internal dynamic. A clean reset could help him return stronger, but the margin for error against Antonelli is now smaller than ever.