Russell's Mexico media no-show earns Mercedes €5,000 fine as Antonelli clinches title

George Russell left the Mexico City Grand Prix without completing his post-race media duties, earning Mercedes a €5,000 fine from the stewards and taking some shine off Kimi Antonelli's title-clinching afternoon.

Antonelli secured the championship with third place, while Russell's sixth-place finish confirmed his defeat to his Mercedes teammate. But Russell did not attend the media pen for TV crews or written journalists, a requirement for every driver unless the FIA grants a medical exemption.

Why it matters:

A Mercedes representative told the stewards Russell had already left the circuit. The team received the fine rather than the driver, but the episode puts fresh attention on F1's media obligations and on Russell's difficult end to a title fight against Antonelli.

The details:

• Antonelli clinched the title with a third-place finish in Mexico City.
• Russell finished sixth, confirming he lost the championship battle to the Italian.
• Russell skipped his media-pen duties after the race.
• Mercedes confirmed to the stewards that he had departed the venue.
• The stewards fined Mercedes €5,000 for the breach.

What's next:

The penalty is minor in financial terms, but it leaves Mercedes facing questions about Russell's early exit as the team celebrates Antonelli's crown. The incident will likely follow Russell into the next race weekend, even as the title result remains unchanged.