George Russell tipped to end Kimi Antonelli's winning run in Barcelona
David Coulthard has backed George Russell to return to winning ways at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix
George Russell, Mercedes
Photo by: EYE4images / NurPhoto via Getty Images
The Formula 1 paddock has arrived in Spain for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, and former F1 driver David Coulthard has backed George Russell for a comeback this weekend after a string of bad luck and poor results.
While Russell won the season-opening Australian Grand Prix and the Chinese sprint race, he has watched his 19-year-old team-mate Kimi Antonelli extend his lead in the drivers' championship with five consecutive grand prix victories. That could all be about to change if Coulthard is proved to be right.
Speaking on the Up To Speed podcast, Coulthard explained: "I think it's going to be George's comeback. George is going to be winning in Barcelona, and he's going to come out swinging, and it's going to be like Rocky 3."
Former F1 TV presenter and co-host of the Up To Speed podcast Will Buxton disagreed with Coulthard, arguing that Antonelli will likely celebrate his sixth win of the season in Barcelona.
"Kimi for the win. Kimi six in a row. He is breathing rarefied air. There is a looseness, a joy, just a oneness that Kimi has at the moment that I think is going to be really, really hard for anybody to topple," Buxton argued.
George Russell, Mercedes-AMG W17
Photo by: Erik Junius
"He's got almost twice the points of his team-mate heading into Barcelona. You don't drive the way that Kimi drove at Monaco unless you are in a very, very comfortable place."
The on-track action for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix will begin on Friday 12 June with the first two practice sessions. Heading into the race, Antonelli leads the drivers' championship with 156 points. Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton follows in second with 90 points, and Russell sits third with 88 points.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and McLaren's Oscar Piastri complete the top five with 75 and 60 points, respectively.
Photos from Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday
Share Or Save This Story
Isack Hadjar lauded after impressive Red Bull recovery at F1 Belgian GP
Karun Chandhok urges George Russell to demand Mercedes answers amid "new territory"
Bernie Collins explains key factor behind Kimi Antonelli's F1 Belgian GP win
Ferrari criticises "mega harsh" Lewis Hamilton penalty in F1 Belgian GP
George Russell furious at "dangerous" battery issue before Hamilton Spa clash
Why this looks like George Russell’s best chance yet at the British GP
"Kimi can buy me dinner." Valtteri Bottas jokes about his part in Antonelli’s Belgian GP win
Momentum restored: Antonelli overcomes bad luck to reclaim control at the Belgian GP
All Mercedes cars struggled with power issue at Belgian GP start, reveals Toto Wolff
Isack Hadjar lauded after impressive Red Bull recovery at F1 Belgian GP
"Kimi can buy me dinner." Valtteri Bottas jokes about his part in Antonelli’s Belgian GP win
Matteo Nannini leads Cape Motorsports 1-2 in Nashville Indy NXT race
Momentum restored: Antonelli overcomes bad luck to reclaim control at the Belgian GP
Momentum restored: Antonelli overcomes bad luck to reclaim control at the Belgian GP
The data that reveals how different Spa is under F1's 2026 rules
How Antonelli found half a second to thwart Verstappen in Belgian GP qualifying
How Franco Colapinto has survived and thrived in the hothouse intensity of F1
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments