“He will not be allowed to stay that way”
Schumacher criticizes Formula 1 star sharply
Updated on April 10th, 2025 – 1:17 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
George Russell started the season. But for Ralf Schumacher, his achievements have not yet been good enough. He has a clear criticism.
Ex-Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher has criticized George Russell’s performance in Japan last weekend. Schumacher speaks clearly about the Mercedes pilot in the “Backstage pitengasse” podcast: “In the end, it was the Russell, whom we often described, who has a great potential, but also made a mistake. You have to see that.”
In the qualifying of Japan, Russell has already “thrown away” his crucial round in the first sector. He missed the chance of pole position and thus also the chance to win the race, says Schumacher. Russell started the season promising, finished third in Australia and China, so at the beginning it grabbed two podium places.
Ralf Schumacher continues: “The car was there. For Antonelli (Russell’s teammate who completes his first Formula 1 year, editor’s note) is still too early. But Antonelli did it in relation. So, in my opinion, Russell will not be allowed to stay. As a comparison, Schumacher Max Verstappen uses, who “simply brings such a thing home without errors” and does not make a mistake. Verstappen had won the race in Japan in front of the actually thoughtful McLaren.
For Schumacher it is clear that the George Russell team has made a clear announcement: If he wants to keep his driver at Mercedes, then “you now have to show us that you are the one we need who can drive around the championship who can get the best out of the car.”
George Russell finished fifth in Japan and is in fourth place in the overall ranking, 17 points behind the leading Lando Norris (McLaren). Formula 1 will drive in Bahrain next weekend. For Russell the next opportunity to refute Schumacher’s criticism.