Riccardo Patrese sees that George Russell is under increasing pressure this season from his younger teammate Kimi Antonelli. According to the former Formula 1 driver, Russell is beginning to realize that to become world champion, he must also win internally. According to Patrese, the young Italian is only getting stronger. “At the moment, the wind is at Kimi’s back,” said Patrese.
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Riccardo Patrese sees a clear shift in George Russell’s role within the team. Where the Brit was previously primarily the challenger, he is now being put under pressure himself. “It’s not something he expected. He now realizes that to win the championship, he must also beat his teammate. It’s the first time he’s dealt with this kind of pressure. Everyone now expects him to become champion, but he has a strong teammate who can make it very difficult for him,” Patrese told BettingLounge.
‘Not relaxed’
According to the former Formula 1 driver, Russell is only now realizing how strong Kimi Antonelli is, and that could have consequences for the Brit. “Russell could well get into trouble. In Japan, he was clearly defeated, and at the moment, the wind is at Kimi’s back; George didn’t expect that. He’s probably starting to realize how big the challenge is now. He certainly won’t be relaxed, and that could play a role,” said Patrese.
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At the same time, the Italian emphasized that this pressure can also turn out positively. “If the pressure increases further, he can react to it and become stronger. It’s one thing to win a few Grands Prix, but it’s quite another to be in a position where you can fight for the world championship. Russell knows he can become world champion, and Kimi thinks so too. It’s now up to them how they deal with that pressure,” concluded the six-time Grand Prix winner.
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