Martin Brundle warns: “George Russell needs to get this under control”

In the race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, George Russell was in the best position, having secured pole position with a strong performance on Saturday. His team-mate and championship rival Kimi Antonelli, however, had to settle for third place, as Ferrari star Lewis Hamilton managed to squeeze in between the two drivers with a strong lap.

The seven-time world champion won the race, whilst behind him Russell and Antonelli battled it out for second place, which the teenager from Bologna initially claimed. However, as the battery in his power unit failed shortly before the end, it was ultimately Russell who celebrated second place.

Praise from Martin Brundle, criticism from Jacques Villeneuve

For some observers, however, the Briton had once again failed to show his best side. Former F1 driver Jacques Villeneuve, for example, described the six-time Grand Prix winner’s performance as “disappointing”. Martin Brundle’s verdict was considerably more lenient, and he began by praising the 28-year-old.

“George Russell was in great form all weekend after deciding to rely on his own instincts and his own set-up with his Mercedes. On the track, he appeared calm and composed and skilfully kept his car at the grip limit without putting excessive strain on the tyres – at least that was the case in the corners where I was standing,” explains the 67-year-old, who watched the action up close for the pay-TV channel “Sky Sports F1”.

George Russell needs to improve in the second half of his stint

“Russell secured pole position in his Mercedes by a fraction of a second, confirming his return to form. In the second half of each stint, however, Antonelli had the better pace and was able to catch up with Russell,” Brundle continues in his column.

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And the former F1 star makes it clear that Russell must put a stop to this trend. He warns: “This has been an issue throughout the season so far, and it’s something George needs to get a handle on if he wants to make the most of his chance at the World Championship.”