Jul.22 (GMM) Ralf Schumacher says George Russell is beginning to crack under the pressure of championship leader Kimi Antonelli, despite Mercedes admitting a technical problem contributed to the Briton’s first-lap retirement at Spa.
Antonelli’s Belgian GP victory doubled his advantage over Russell to 50 points, while the older Mercedes driver was left furious after losing electrical power before his collision with Lewis Hamilton.
“Yes, this is exactly what we said at the beginning of the season,” Schumacher told Sky Deutschland.
“Once Kimi Antonelli established himself as the faster driver, George Russell would eventually crack under the pressure. And that’s what’s happening now.”
Schumacher acknowledged that Russell’s increasingly difficult position has also been worsened by recurring technical problems.
“It reminds me a bit of Hamilton last year,” he said. “At times it almost felt like he was close to tears.
“That kind of thing affects a driver. I think he’s now in a very, very difficult situation.”
The former Formula 1 driver believes Mercedes has also decided internally which driver now has priority. “I think it’s now clear internally which driver the team is going to back first,” said Schumacher.
However, Schumacher accepted that Russell’s Spa retirement was primarily caused by Mercedes’ electrical failure rather than the pressure of racing Antonelli.
“They’re hoping to identify the problem so they can have both cars fighting at the front, because Ferrari really isn’t that far behind,” said the German.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has now also made clear that the team’s earlier policy of complete competitive equality will not be allowed to cost it another victory.
“Following the experiences we’ve had, namely in Barcelona, where we lost so much time, we’ve set ourselves the goal of not losing time to one another,” he said.
“We don’t want any ‘yo-yo racing’, where a Ferrari or a Red Bull is breathing down our necks and we lose the win, as happened in Barcelona. Without the retirement, Kimi would have won the race.”
The Austrian said Mercedes will now prioritise securing the victory rather than allowing unrestricted fighting if a rival is close enough to benefit.
“Since Barcelona, we would definitely always prioritise winning the race. And if that meant Kimi or George were in the lead, that’s exactly what we’d do.”
“It’s just as much a Constructors’ Championship as it is a Drivers’ Championship.”
However, Wolff denied that Antonelli’s growing points advantage means Russell would automatically be ordered aside.
“We would never take a win away from either driver.
“So if George is in the lead, we wouldn’t do that, even if he’s trailing in the championship at this stage of the season.”
