Toto Wolff explains why George Russell skipped media duty after Kimi Antonelli F1 title win

George Russell did not participate in media duties following the Mexico City Grand Prix, as team principal Toto Wolff noted that Russell was experiencing a challenging moment after his teammate Kimi Antonelli won the world championship. Despite being the favorite at the start of the season, Russell faced a tough competition from Antonelli, who became the youngest champion in F1 history in just his second season.

Russell expressed that this season has been the most disappointing of his career, particularly at a time when he needed to perform well. After the race, he congratulated Antonelli, demonstrating sportsmanship despite his distress. Wolff acknowledged the difficulty of the situation for Russell, who finished sixth in the race after struggling with car performance and receiving a penalty for a collision. Mercedes faced a fine of 5,000 euros due to Russell's absence from post-race media obligations.