David Coulthard has questioned whether George Russell’s focus has wavered as Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli closes in on the F1 world title.

Russell delayed Antonelli’s coronation by finishing in the top eight at the US Grand Prix on Sunday, but the Italian will almost certainly seal the championship in Mexico this weekend. He only needs to place ninth or better to do so.

Antonelli took his ninth victory of the season in Austin, beating Russell by 54 seconds. The gap between the two Mercedes drivers is now 123 points.

David Coulthard: George Russell needs to get back to being a ‘Grand Prix driver’

Russell entered the year as the favourite based on Mercedes’ apparent superiority in winter testing. He had beaten a rookie Antonelli with ease, outscoring him 319-150.

The manner in which the Mercedes battle has turned on its head has surprised virtually everyone in F1, but Coulthard has a theory to explain it.

Would Mercedes have won the championship without Kimi Antonelli?

Russell is now in his eighth season as an F1 driver with 169 starts to his name, 111 of which have come in Mercedes colours.

As a serial Grand Prix winner and 32-time podium finisher, he is an appealing partner for any F1 brand, but Coulthard says ‘promoting products’ comes at a cost.

Antonelli doesn’t share the same celebrity status, so he may not face the same demands on his time off-track, though this will naturally challenge if and when he becomes a world champion.

“I’m going to say something which can easily be challenged by anyone, especially the individuals [involved],” Coulthard told the Up to Speed podcast. “You gain baggage as you go through life.

“If you’re a successful Formula 1 driver, that baggage may be Louis Vuitton or any other high-end brand, but it still has to be carried.

“Sometimes, if you’re a few years into your career, you start endorsing products that you wouldn’t necessarily be associated with, but they pay you a lot of money. These are all distractions.

“The benefit of just being young and only doing what the team tell you [is that] you’re just fully focused on that.

“I’m going to suggest once again – and I know there’ll be a whole bunch of people that may disagree – the moment you start giving time to stuff off track, promoting products and building stuff, you’re not giving 100% to the driving process.

“I think maybe George might have maybe had a few other things [going on] and suddenly he’s backtracking, going, ‘I just want to be a Grand Prix driver.'”

In addition to contractually mandated promotional work for Mercedes’ sponsors, Russell is an individual ambassador for multiple brands. He has collaborated with companies like Pershing Yacht and AMAFFI Perfume House on his social channels this year.

Russell earns £30m per year through racing alone thanks to the new Mercedes deal he signed in 2025.