George Russell left the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez track hastily after Kimi Antonelli clinched the Formula One drivers' championship in Mexico, missing the Mercedes title celebrations. The Briton, who was the pre-season favourite, suffered one of his worst days of the year on the same day his teenage team-mate secured the crown.
A Painful Day in Mexico City
Russell had qualified just 0.009 seconds off pole position on Saturday, but a software issue in his engine struck again on the opening lap, leaving him down on power and dropping him down the order. In the melee, he tagged the back of Isack Hadjar's Red Bull, sending it into a spin and earning a 10-second time penalty.
Such was Russell's exasperation that he began to complain on the radio but quickly thought better of it, saying: "I'm going to shut the f*** up." Toto Wolff, Mercedes team principal, described the Brit as being "distraught" after the chequered flag.
Congratulating the Champion
Despite his anguish, Russell was among those who came to congratulate Antonelli first as he parked his Mercedes in the stadium section, offering a hug and a handshake for his team-mate and also for the Italian's parents and sister who were present.
However, Russell was conspicuous by his absence from both the media pen and the Mercedes title celebrations that went on into the night. As Mercedes staff gathered in the pit lane for full team photos and the spraying of champagne, Russell could not find the strength to take part.
Team-Mates Usually Stay
Wolff backed Russell's decision when asked about it by reporters, saying: "Him not doing the media work or leaving the track is absolutely understandable – him staying would have actually surprised me."
This was the first time Mercedes have won the drivers' championship since 2020. Recent history shows that team-mates do tend to stick around for the festivities: Oscar Piastri is in the McLaren team photos from Abu Dhabi last December after Lando Norris secured the title, and Sergio Perez joined Max Verstappen's title celebrations in Las Vegas a year earlier. Even in 2016, at the end of an at-times bitter duel, Lewis Hamilton stuck around for the photos to mark Nico Rosberg's crowning achievement.
Russell decided to spare himself the pain, a respectable choice, but it left Mercedes a very important man light as they confirmed that they truly are back on their perch.
