Sky Sports commentator David Croft believes Mercedes driver George Russell must outperform teammate Kimi Antonelli at the Canadian Grand Prix to prevent concerns from growing within the team. Antonelli currently leads Russell by 20 points in the championship after strong recent results.
Croft highlighted Russell's challenging start to the 2026 season despite an early win in Australia and a sprint victory in China. The Briton has faced setbacks including qualifying problems in China, a poorly timed safety car in Japan and a circuit in Miami that did not suit his style, allowing Antonelli to secure victories there along with Japan and the Chinese Grand Prix main race.