Russell says split pit strategy surprised him as Antonelli wins Italian Grand Prix

George Russell finished runner-up at the Italian Grand Prix after his Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli passed him in the final laps. Russell led much of the race after taking the lead from pole-sitter Pierre Gasly, while Antonelli climbed from a 19th-grid start to challenge for the win. When a Virtual Safety Car was deployed following Lance Stroll’s car stopping, Mercedes elected to pit Antonelli for fresh tyres, leaving Russell on track. The decision initially dropped Russell down the order, but he recovered to second place before being overtaken by Antonelli near the finish.

"I was surprised to see him pit," Russell told reporters when asked about the strategy split. "I thought we were both going to stay out. It was a roll of the dice both ways. In the moment, the team wouldn't have known which strategy was better." Russell praised Antonelli’s performance, saying the young driver’s pace justified the decision. He added that, despite missing the win, the result was a positive step after a mixed first half of the season. The victory extended Antonelli’s lead in the Drivers' Championship, while Russell maintained his position ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton in the standings.