Jenson Button explains why George Russell can handle Kimi Antonelli threat at Mercedes

Jenson Button believes George Russell has the experience and mentality to cope with the pressure of a Mercedes team-mate battle with Kimi Antonelli

2009 Formula 1 champion Jenson Button has backed George Russell to be able to handle the intra-team battle at Mercedes.

The Brackley outfit has had a dominant start to the 2026 season, winning both the Australian and Chinese Grands Prix and the Chinese sprint race. While Russell claimed the victory in Australia as well as in the sprint race, his team-mate Kimi Antonelli sits just four points behind him after claiming his maiden F1 win in the Chinese Grand Prix.

"I think he'll manage OK," Button told Sky Sports F1 of Russell. "He's been up against Lewis Hamilton and yes, obviously, when he was team-mates with him, everyone's like, well, 'Lewis is going to be quicker than him,' so it's less pressure on George.

"So, it is kind of a little bit the other way round. He is the driver that's got the experience and won multiple grands prix. But looking at the way George is and his personality, I think he can handle it pretty well.

"I'm looking forward to seeing how it does play out because Kimi is very quick. He's very raw, which sometimes for an older statesman, it's like, ‘Oh, how did he do that?’ It just happens. It just comes to them naturally."

Former Aston Martin strategist and Sky Sports analyst Bernie Collins added: "But I think there's an advantage in that. If George looks at it the right way, there's an advantage in that because if he has it all his own way and he's not got someone pushing him, he knows as soon as he drops the ball, Kimi is going to pick it up.

George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

"You know, last week in qualifying, because of the issues with the car, he potentially didn't get the lap together, didn't get it done.

"And Kimi's just right there. So that's going to push George to really keep his game high, higher than potentially he might do with thinking, 'Oh, we've got the fastest car, you know, lift and coast a little bit.' But he's going to have to keep on it.”

Antonelli went on to secure pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix while Russell battled against excess oversteer after set-up changes ahead of qualifying.