{"id":1879475,"date":"2026-04-12T10:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-12T07:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1879475"},"modified":"2026-04-12T10:30:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T07:30:00","slug":"martin-brundle-sends-george-russell-warning-amid-mercedes-f1-title-fight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1879475","title":{"rendered":"Martin Brundle sends George Russell warning amid Mercedes F1 title fight"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404075_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9&#8243;]<\/p>\n<article>\n<header id=\"lbs-article\" class=\"article header article-header section layout layout--article-header\">\n<div class=\"col headline\">\n<div>\n<h1>Martin Brundle sends George Russell warning amid Mercedes F1 title fight<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"summary body\">\n<p>Martin Brundle offers advice to George Russell amid F1 title fight with Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"section two-column\">\n<div class=\"col article-info\">\n<div>\n<address> Lewis Larkam <\/address>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><time datetime=\"2026-04-12T11:30:00+01:00\">12 Apr 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col article-actions\">\n<div class=\"block block-better-social-sharing-buttons block-social-sharing-buttons-block\">\n<div class=\"social-sharing-buttons\"><span class=\"ssb-title\"> Share<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div id=\"lbs-content\" class=\"content wide-two-column-sticky section layout layout--wide-two-column-sticky\">\n<div class=\"col first-column\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<figure> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404075_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404075_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404075_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404075_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404075_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404075_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404075_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404075_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404075_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><figcaption>\n<div>Antonelli is a surprise early leader in the 2026 F1 world championship<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block block-preferred-source\">\n<div class=\"preferred-source-cta\">  Add as a preferred source <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p>Martin Brundle has advised George Russell to treat Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli like a peak Lewis Hamilton amid their Formula 1 title battle.<\/p>\n<p>Russell was the pre-season title favourite and made the perfect start to the 2026 campaign by winning the Australian Grand Prix, but back-to-back victories for Antonelli have given the Italian teenager a surprise early world championship lead.<\/p>\n<p>Antonelli has capitalised on some early bad luck for Russell, and his own fortune, to move into a nine-point lead at the top of the drivers\u2019 world championship following the opening three rounds of the season.<\/p>\n<p>Former F1 driver-turned-pundit Brundle believes Russell should be \u201cconcerned\u201d about how Antonelli has started his sophomore season.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf I was George, I&#8217;d be more concerned after three races than I was at the beginning of the season,\u201d Brundle told the Sky Sports F1 Show.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>&#8220;George did all those hard yards at Williams and spent an extra year or two there, goes to Mercedes, just as they stopped dominating and has to tolerate all that.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Now they look like they&#8217;ve got a championship car and you&#8217;d say George has got the upper hand and all of a sudden he&#8217;s got to be looking across the garage and thinking, &#8216;hang on a minute, this is nowhere near certain. I&#8217;ve got to beat this teenager yet&#8217;. And I think he really has.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-007b26018cde9c66c9748a84056a6cd8fe2e10f569f518c4982a457de5c9b7f9\">  The biggest winners and losers from F1\u2019s surprise five-week break   F1 championship leader hints at \u201cmajor changes\u201d coming for Ferrari <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s difficult times for George and he&#8217;s got to treat Kimi Antonelli just as if he&#8217;s Lewis Hamilton in his peak and a threat for the championship.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Antonelli bounced back from a huge crash in practice in Melbourne to finish second in the season-opener, before going on to become F1\u2019s youngest pole sitter in China, which he converted into a maiden win.<\/p>\n<p>After taking advantage of the timing of a safety car in Japan, Antonelli secured his second consecutive victory at Suzuka, while Russell lucked out and finished off the podium in fourth place.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-b3ee9f2f9a474e150c9a58c6465bc253424eac562ce10d3bc8447e152e41fd28\">  Toto Wolff told what he can\u2019t do as Mercedes F1 title tension predicted   Kimi Antonelli \u201cnot worrying\u201d about championship after taking F1 title lead, but should he? <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>And Brundle has been left impressed by 19-year-old Antonelli\u2019s performances.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;When he crashed the car in Melbourne and came straight back, that for me is one of the most telling things that you can see in a young driver as to whether they can just get straight back on it, and he did in Melbourne,\u201d Brundle said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I remember watching on our show after China when Kimi&#8217;s dad and Toto were saying, &#8216;look, forget championship crusades because he&#8217;s got a lot to learn and he will make mistakes&#8217;. And I thought that tallied exactly with what I was thinking.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;George is the favourite because there will be wet days and safety-car restarts and all sorts of things where George&#8217;s experience will surely play out. But watching Kimi in qualifying, in the races, he got lucky on the safety car in Japan, but his pace was mighty.&#8221;<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block block-echobox\">\n<h2>Subscribe to our F1 Newsletter<\/h2>\n<div class=\"info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-info\" id=\"edit-info--2\">\n<p>Get the latest F1 news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"extra-info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-legal\" id=\"edit-legal--2\">\n<p>For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h2>In this article<\/h2>\n<div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">F1<\/div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">Mercedes<\/div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">George Russell<\/div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">Andrea Kimi Antonelli<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block block-next-prev\">\n<div class=\"next-prev-pager contextual-region\">\n<div class=\"items\">\n<div class=\"item prev\">\n<h3>  Previous<\/h3>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\"> What \u2018surprised\u2019 an F1 race winner about Max Verstappen journalist spat<\/div>\n<source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1399194_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1399194_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1399194_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1399194_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1399194_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1399194_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1399194_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1399194_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1399194_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"item next\">\n<h3> Next <\/h3>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\"> Legendary F1 world champion Mika Hakkinen&#8217;s daughter makes her racing debut this weekend<\/div>\n<source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ella-hakkinen-02.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ella-hakkinen-02.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ella-hakkinen-02.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ella-hakkinen-02.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ella-hakkinen-02.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ella-hakkinen-02.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ella-hakkinen-02.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ella-hakkinen-02.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ella-hakkinen-02.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-author-block block block-configurable-views-block\">\n<div class=\"author-view grid-view js-view-dom-id-c1bed23da6aaba318626f0832e5d71e01d18cd2aca536eae47b6260d5bcae580\">\n<div class=\"card user default\">\n<div class=\"image\"> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/pictures\/1bc46a82-ac76-40ea-9cf5-d309b802b0ef_1.jpeg?height=270&amp;format=webp 270w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/pictures\/1bc46a82-ac76-40ea-9cf5-d309b802b0ef_1.jpeg?height=180&amp;format=webp 180w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/pictures\/1bc46a82-ac76-40ea-9cf5-d309b802b0ef_1.jpeg?height=90&amp;format=webp 90w\" sizes=\"100px\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"header\">\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"name\">Lewis Larkam<\/div>\n<div class=\"role\">F1 Editor<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"desc\">\n<p>Lewis regularly attends Grands Prix for Crash.net around the world. Often reporting on the action from the ground, Lewis tells the stories of the people who matter in the sport.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"views-element-container block block-views-blockrelated-content-related-content-block\">\n<h3>More News<\/h3>\n<div class=\"grid-view grid-2 js-view-dom-id-0788117af0a7184a90c6c2760fb200683d46a0b68c9d57f7e461b93ee6c1c4c0\">\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Toto Wolff hails &#8216;unpredictable&#8217; Kimi Antonelli F1 win rate<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1775223360\"> 03\/04\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/xpb_1404498_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, 2026 Japanese GP\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Mercedes chief thought Kimi Antonelli was a \u2018lost child\u2019 when they first met<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1775134570\"> 02\/04\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/m586713_f1_chinese_grand_prix_2026.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Antonelli kisses the winners' trophy on the Shanghai podium\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Why George Russell isn&#8217;t worried about early F1 title battle momentum shift<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1775132100\"> 02\/04\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404160_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"George Russell, Mercedes F1, 2026 Japanese GP\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Why Mercedes is wary of F1 rivals despite unbeaten start to 2026<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1775035927\"> 01\/04\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404742_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Mercedes had a fight to win the Japanese Grand Prix\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Leclerc identifies what Ferrari need to do to catch Mercedes<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1774960863\"> 31\/03\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/xpb_1404671_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Leclerc says Ferrari's &quot;main weakness&quot; is its power unit \" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  Feature <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>How likely is Max Verstappen quitting F1 and what are his options? <\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1774951059\"> 31\/03\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/xpb_1403785_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Verstappen faces a big decision over his F1 future\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col second-column\">\n<div class=\"sticky\">\n<div class=\"block block-echobox\">\n<h2>Subscribe to our F1 Newsletter<\/h2>\n<div class=\"info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-info\" id=\"edit-info\">\n<p>Get the latest F1 news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"extra-info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-legal\" id=\"edit-legal\">\n<p>For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"summary body\">\n<p>Martin Brundle offers advice to George Russell amid F1 title fight with Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p>Martin Brundle has advised George Russell to treat Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli like a peak Lewis Hamilton amid their Formula 1 title battle.<\/p>\n<p>Russell was the pre-season title favourite and made the perfect start to the 2026 campaign by winning the Australian Grand Prix, but back-to-back victories for Antonelli have given the Italian teenager a surprise early world championship lead.<\/p>\n<p>Antonelli has capitalised on some early bad luck for Russell, and his own fortune, to move into a nine-point lead at the top of the drivers\u2019 world championship following the opening three rounds of the season.<\/p>\n<p>Former F1 driver-turned-pundit Brundle believes Russell should be \u201cconcerned\u201d about how Antonelli has started his sophomore season.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf I was George, I&#8217;d be more concerned after three races than I was at the beginning of the season,\u201d Brundle told the Sky Sports F1 Show.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>&#8220;George did all those hard yards at Williams and spent an extra year or two there, goes to Mercedes, just as they stopped dominating and has to tolerate all that.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Now they look like they&#8217;ve got a championship car and you&#8217;d say George has got the upper hand and all of a sudden he&#8217;s got to be looking across the garage and thinking, &#8216;hang on a minute, this is nowhere near certain. I&#8217;ve got to beat this teenager yet&#8217;. And I think he really has.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-007b26018cde9c66c9748a84056a6cd8fe2e10f569f518c4982a457de5c9b7f9\">  The biggest winners and losers from F1\u2019s surprise five-week break   F1 championship leader hints at \u201cmajor changes\u201d coming for Ferrari <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s difficult times for George and he&#8217;s got to treat Kimi Antonelli just as if he&#8217;s Lewis Hamilton in his peak and a threat for the championship.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Antonelli bounced back from a huge crash in practice in Melbourne to finish second in the season-opener, before going on to become F1\u2019s youngest pole sitter in China, which he converted into a maiden win.<\/p>\n<p>After taking advantage of the timing of a safety car in Japan, Antonelli secured his second consecutive victory at Suzuka, while Russell lucked out and finished off the podium in fourth place.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-b3ee9f2f9a474e150c9a58c6465bc253424eac562ce10d3bc8447e152e41fd28\">  Toto Wolff told what he can\u2019t do as Mercedes F1 title tension predicted   Kimi Antonelli \u201cnot worrying\u201d about championship after taking F1 title lead, but should he? <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>And Brundle has been left impressed by 19-year-old Antonelli\u2019s performances.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;When he crashed the car in Melbourne and came straight back, that for me is one of the most telling things that you can see in a young driver as to whether they can just get straight back on it, and he did in Melbourne,\u201d Brundle said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I remember watching on our show after China when Kimi&#8217;s dad and Toto were saying, &#8216;look, forget championship crusades because he&#8217;s got a lot to learn and he will make mistakes&#8217;. And I thought that tallied exactly with what I was thinking.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;George is the favourite because there will be wet days and safety-car restarts and all sorts of things where George&#8217;s experience will surely play out. But watching Kimi in qualifying, in the races, he got lucky on the safety car in Japan, but his pace was mighty.&#8221;<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block block-echobox\">\n<h2>Subscribe to our F1 Newsletter<\/h2>\n<div class=\"info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-info\" id=\"edit-info--2\">\n<p>Get the latest F1 news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"extra-info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-legal\" id=\"edit-legal--2\">\n<p>For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p>Martin Brundle has advised George Russell to treat Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli like a peak Lewis Hamilton amid their Formula 1 title battle.<\/p>\n<p>Russell was the pre-season title favourite and made the perfect start to the 2026 campaign by winning the Australian Grand Prix, but back-to-back victories for Antonelli have given the Italian teenager a surprise early world championship lead.<\/p>\n<p>Antonelli has capitalised on some early bad luck for Russell, and his own fortune, to move into a nine-point lead at the top of the drivers\u2019 world championship following the opening three rounds of the season.<\/p>\n<p>Former F1 driver-turned-pundit Brundle believes Russell should be \u201cconcerned\u201d about how Antonelli has started his sophomore season.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf I was George, I&#8217;d be more concerned after three races than I was at the beginning of the season,\u201d Brundle told the Sky Sports F1 Show.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>&#8220;George did all those hard yards at Williams and spent an extra year or two there, goes to Mercedes, just as they stopped dominating and has to tolerate all that.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Now they look like they&#8217;ve got a championship car and you&#8217;d say George has got the upper hand and all of a sudden he&#8217;s got to be looking across the garage and thinking, &#8216;hang on a minute, this is nowhere near certain. I&#8217;ve got to beat this teenager yet&#8217;. And I think he really has.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-007b26018cde9c66c9748a84056a6cd8fe2e10f569f518c4982a457de5c9b7f9\">  The biggest winners and losers from F1\u2019s surprise five-week break   F1 championship leader hints at \u201cmajor changes\u201d coming for Ferrari <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s difficult times for George and he&#8217;s got to treat Kimi Antonelli just as if he&#8217;s Lewis Hamilton in his peak and a threat for the championship.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Antonelli bounced back from a huge crash in practice in Melbourne to finish second in the season-opener, before going on to become F1\u2019s youngest pole sitter in China, which he converted into a maiden win.<\/p>\n<p>After taking advantage of the timing of a safety car in Japan, Antonelli secured his second consecutive victory at Suzuka, while Russell lucked out and finished off the podium in fourth place.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-b3ee9f2f9a474e150c9a58c6465bc253424eac562ce10d3bc8447e152e41fd28\">  Toto Wolff told what he can\u2019t do as Mercedes F1 title tension predicted   Kimi Antonelli \u201cnot worrying\u201d about championship after taking F1 title lead, but should he? <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>And Brundle has been left impressed by 19-year-old Antonelli\u2019s performances.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;When he crashed the car in Melbourne and came straight back, that for me is one of the most telling things that you can see in a young driver as to whether they can just get straight back on it, and he did in Melbourne,\u201d Brundle said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I remember watching on our show after China when Kimi&#8217;s dad and Toto were saying, &#8216;look, forget championship crusades because he&#8217;s got a lot to learn and he will make mistakes&#8217;. And I thought that tallied exactly with what I was thinking.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;George is the favourite because there will be wet days and safety-car restarts and all sorts of things where George&#8217;s experience will surely play out. But watching Kimi in qualifying, in the races, he got lucky on the safety car in Japan, but his pace was mighty.&#8221;<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block block-echobox\">\n<h2>Subscribe to our F1 Newsletter<\/h2>\n<div class=\"info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-info\" id=\"edit-info--2\">\n<p>Get the latest F1 news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"extra-info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-legal\" id=\"edit-legal--2\">\n<p>For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;http:\/\/crash.net\/f1\/news\/1092959\/1\/martin-brundle-sends-george-russell-warning-amid-mercedes-f1-title-fight&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404075_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9&#8243;] Martin Brundle sends George Russell warning amid Mercedes F1 title fight Martin Brundle offers advice to George Russell amid F1 title fight with Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli. Lewis Larkam 12 Apr 2026 Share Antonelli is a surprise early leader in the 2026 F1 world championship Add as a preferred source Martin Brundle [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[47,226],"class_list":["post-1879475","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crash-net","tag-crawlmanager"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1879475","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1879475"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1879475\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1879475"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1879475"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1879475"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}