Wolff: Russell 'distraught' after Antonelli clinches title

Toto Wolff says Mercedes excused George Russell from post-Mexico City Grand Prix media duties because the British driver was 'distraught' after watching team-mate Kimi Antonelli clinch the 2026 Drivers' Championship.

Why it matters:

Russell started the season as title favourite but has been comprehensively outperformed by Antonelli, who finished third in Mexico to become F1's youngest-ever world champion at 20, with four rounds remaining. The result signals a dramatic shift in Mercedes' driver hierarchy and raises questions about Russell's future.

The details:

• A technical issue out of Russell's control caused a poor getaway from second, dropping him to sixth on lap one.
• He received a 10-second penalty for causing a collision with Red Bull's Isack Hadjar and finished sixth.
• Russell congratulated Antonelli before leaving the circuit.
• Wolff: 'For a racing driver, this is a catastrophic moment. This was a race for him to win. We had the pace. We let him down on the first straight. The energy delivery is not what we thought it should be.'
• Mercedes were fined €5,000 by the FIA for Russell's media absence.
• Russell fell from second to fourth in the standings; Max Verstappen climbed to second, with Lewis Hamilton third.

What's next:

Russell is set to speak to the media Thursday in Brazil ahead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix (November 6-8).