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George Russell

Schiff sympathises with Russell but says he ‘dropped the ball somewhat’

Archive photograph: George Russell · 2024-07-04Archive photo · 2024-07-04 · Raph_PH · CC BY 2.0

After Russell retired with a late power-unit failure at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, Schiff said she felt for him but thought he had fallen somewhat short of Kimi Antonelli in a season she believed was supposed to be his.

Naomi Schiff said she felt for George Russell after a late power-unit failure ended his race at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, but thought he had “dropped the ball somewhat” compared with team-mate Kimi Antonelli.

Russell was still in podium contention when the failure struck in the closing laps at Sepang. On the Sky Sports F1 Show after the race, Schiff said she did not want to give him a pass: his job, she said, was to be quicker than his team-mate.

She described the season as one that was meant to be Russell’s and said Mercedes finally had a competitive car for him. The failure extended Antonelli’s championship lead to 84 points; after the race, he had 320 points to Russell’s 236.

Sources 01
  1. SOURCENaomi Schiff raises Mercedes concern that 'could cost Kimi Antonelli more victories'Motorsport.com F1

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