Montoya Suggests Russell Take a Page from Hamilton's Book at Mercedes

George Russell's grip on second place in the 2026 Drivers' Championship is slipping, with Lewis Hamilton just a point behind him. Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya believes Russell should adopt a strategy similar to Hamilton's at Ferrari, where the seven-time champion isn't shy about pushing his team for better results.

Russell is having a tough season, overshadowed by teammate Kimi Antonelli, who may clinch the title in Mexico. Russell's struggles with the W17 car and the new regulations have been glaring, especially after trailing Antonelli by 54 seconds in Austin. Meanwhile, Hamilton, despite his challenges, has been vocal about Ferrari's shortcomings, notably their engine performance. His skepticism about Ferrari’s tactics has sparked speculation about potential discord within the team. However, Montoya interprets Hamilton's approach as a constructive effort to push Ferrari to greater heights.

Speaking to F1TV, Montoya remarked on Ferrari's potential in Mexico, noting the track's characteristics that could suit their car. He highlighted Hamilton's confidence to question team decisions, suggesting that Russell might benefit from a similar attitude at Mercedes. "Sometimes I wonder if George needs to push that a little more," Montoya pondered, emphasizing the importance of building stronger team dynamics.

Toto Wolff, Mercedes' team principal, has attributed Russell's difficulties to the W17's narrow performance window. Yet, with Antonelli adapting well to the car and the regulations, Russell faces mounting pressure to step up. Montoya's advice might just be the push Russell needs to extract more from his team and regain his form.