George Russell criticizes Mercedes pace after US Grand Prix

George Russell expressed significant frustration following the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas, describing his performance and the car's pace as “rubbish.” Despite starting sixth, Russell finished in eighth place, trailing his teammate Kimi Antonelli by 54 seconds.

Russell’s race was complicated by a five-second penalty issued during the opening lap for an incident involving McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. While the penalty cost him several positions, Russell maintained that his lack of speed was the primary issue. He noted that he struggled to understand why he was so far off the pace, especially following recent technical upgrades to the Mercedes W17.

In contrast, his teammate Kimi Antonelli secured his ninth victory of the season, moving him closer to clinching the 2026 World Championship. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff defended Russell against external criticism, suggesting the current car setup may not suit the British driver, despite the stark performance gap between the two teammates.