Russell credits Antonelli's setup for late Miami GP recovery

George Russell salvaged a difficult Miami Grand Prix weekend by finishing fourth, crediting a late-race setup change inspired by teammate Kimi Antonelli's car configuration. The Mercedes driver, who struggled for pace all weekend, made significant adjustments to his differential and brake bias in the final stages, which he said had a bigger impact than expected and allowed him to recover positions.

Why it matters:

Russell's admission highlights the intense intra-team learning and data sharing that occurs, even between championship rivals. For Mercedes, having two drivers capable of winning races but with different setup preferences creates a valuable feedback loop. However, Russell's ongoing difficulties at the Miami circuit compared to Antonelli's comfort and speed there could become a psychological hurdle in their title fight if not addressed.

The details:

• Russell was open about his struggles, stating the Miami International Autodrome's layout and surface did not suit his driving style, leaving him a step behind Antonelli for most of the weekend.
• With 20 laps remaining and running sixth, Russell made "quite big changes" to his car's differential and brake bias to align them more closely with the settings Antonelli had used successfully.
• The British driver was impressed with the result, noting the changes made his car "much more competitive" in the final stint and helped him climb to fourth place.
• Despite the recovery, Russell labeled it "not a good weekend," acknowledging Miami has historically been a tough circuit for him.

What's next:

The result leaves Russell 20 points behind Antonelli in the drivers' championship after four rounds, setting the stage for a season-long intra-Mercedes battle.

• Russell praised Antonelli's speed but expressed confidence in his own ability, stating he will "reassess things" over the coming weeks to find more consistent performance.
• The key for Russell will be translating his race-day problem-solving speed into a stronger qualifying and race-start setup to avoid having to play catch-up in future events.
• Mercedes will likely focus on understanding the divergent setup preferences between their drivers to optimize car performance for both, a crucial factor in a tight championship fight.