Sports · Football · 2 hrs ago
Russell skips media duties after Antonelli clinches F1 title
Kimi Antonelli clinched the Formula One drivers’ title at the Mexico City Grand Prix, with four races still to go.
The 20-year-old Mercedes driver finished third and became the youngest champion in F1 history.
His team-mate George Russell started second but fell to sixth after a power-delivery problem and a 10-second penalty for a collision.
Russell congratulated Antonelli before leaving the track, but did not attend his required post-race media duties.
Mercedes said Russell was distraught, and team boss Toto Wolff said the car’s energy delivery had let him down.
The FIA fined Mercedes €5,000 for Russell’s absence, while he dropped to fourth in the standings.
Kimi Antonelli won the Formula One world championship at the Mexico City Grand Prix, becoming the sport’s youngest champion.
George Russell finished sixth after an energy-delivery problem at the start and a 10-second penalty for a collision with Isack Hadjar.
Russell congratulated Antonelli but left the circuit without attending his post-race media duties.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said Russell was distraught and described the result as a catastrophic moment for a racing driver.
Mercedes was fined €5,000 by the FIA for Russell’s absence from the media pen.
- Who
- Kimi Antonelli won the title; Mercedes driver George Russell missed post-race media duties.
- What
- Antonelli clinched the Formula One Drivers’ Championship. Russell left the circuit without attending media duties after finishing sixth.
- When
- Sunday, after the Mexico City Grand Prix; the articles were published on November 2, 2026.
- Where
- The Mexico City Grand Prix, Mexico.
- Why
- Wolff said Russell was distraught after a technical problem and a difficult race. Mercedes said it excused him from media duties.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Russell started the Mexico City Grand Prix from second on the grid.
An energy-delivery problem sent Russell back, and he received a 10-second penalty for a collision with Isack Hadjar.
Antonelli finished third to clinch the title, while Russell finished sixth and congratulated him.
Russell left without attending media duties, and Mercedes was fined €5,000 by the FIA.
- Antonelli’s age
- 20
- Antonelli’s result
- Third at the Mexico City Grand Prix
- Russell’s result
- Sixth
- Russell’s penalty
- 10 seconds for a collision with Isack Hadjar
- Mercedes fine
- €5,000 by the FIA
4 sources
Brit driver George Russell walks out on team-mate Kimi Antonelli's F1 title celebrations - and takes a £4,000 fine - after Mercedes 'let him down in s***-show'
Wolff: Russell faces 'catastrophic moment'
Wolff: Russell 'distraught' after watching Antonelli seal title
Mercedes explains 'distraught' Russell's post-race absence after fine
What people are saying
He's distraught about the situation. It was a great show of sportsmanship to go and see Kimi,
For a racing driver, this is a catastrophic moment.
This was a race for him to win. We had the pace in the car. And we let him down on the first straight.