George Russell has disclosed that Mercedes is investigating why he is losing speed in a straight line after qualifying fourth for the British Grand Prix. The revelation came following a qualifying session where his teammate Kimi Antonelli secured pole position with a lap of 1:28.111, beating Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton by 0.175 seconds.
Qualifying Results and Key Performances
Antonelli, who also won the Sprint Race earlier on Saturday, continued his strong form to claim his fifth career pole. The Italian's Mercedes teammate George Russell will start from fourth on the grid, while Red Bull's Isack Hadjar qualified fifth. Reigning world champion Lando Norris could only manage sixth place.
Russell's slower time compared to Antonelli prompted the Briton to reveal post-qualifying that the team is investigating the discrepancy. "We're looking into why I'm losing speed on the straights," Russell said. "It's something we need to understand before the race."
Max Verstappen's Frustration Continues
Max Verstappen expressed frustration after another difficult day at Silverstone. The Dutchman emphasized in an interview that Red Bull is still grappling with persistent issues that have hampered their performance. "We're still struggling with the same problems," Verstappen stated. "It's frustrating because we can't seem to find a solution."
Race Day Details
The British Grand Prix is scheduled to start at 2pm (BST) on Sunday, July 5, 2026. Antonelli and Leclerc will lead the field from the front row, with Hamilton starting third. The race is expected to be a strategic battle, with tyre degradation and weather conditions potentially playing a role.
Fans can follow live updates and reaction from Silverstone throughout the race. The event marks a crucial point in the championship, with several drivers looking to close the gap in the standings.
