George Russell’s team radio reaction after hearing the Miami Grand Prix sprint qualifying results says a lot.
After hearing the results of the Miami Grand Prix sprint qualifying, George Russell’s team radio showed a rare tough moment for Mercedes in 2026.
So far this year, Mercedes has been leading the way—winning all three races and taking pole position in every qualifying, including Russell’s win at the Australian Grand Prix. His teammate, Kimi Antonelli, won in both China and Japan, with Russell finishing second and fourth in those races.
But at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, McLaren surprised everyone. World Champion Lando Norris took pole for the Sprint, with his teammate Oscar Piastri in third. Kimi Antonelli was second for Mercedes, but Russell finished sixth, behind both McLarens, Antonelli, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. Russell’s quiet reaction on team radio showed how disappointing the day was for him.
Russell later opened up about his struggles, saying, “Miami is not a track I love. I was overheating my tires a lot in the twisty middle section and just couldn’t get the right balance with the car.”
Right now, Russell is second in the championship, nine points behind Antonelli. He was also impressed by how well McLaren and Ferrari did, especially in the hotter Miami conditions. “It’s pretty surprising how much McLaren and Ferrari have improved. We expected they’d catch up, but they’ve been faster all day,” he said.
Russell remains hopeful for the race: “It’s another day tomorrow. I’m not in a great spot, but I want to get a good start, not lose any more places, and see what I can do.”