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Motorsport

Lydia Mee

George Russell told "low" moments are "really good thing for him" after Belgian GP blow

George Russell Juan Pablo Montoya Mercedes Lewis Hamilton Kimi Antonelli

Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya believes George Russell's difficult 2026 campaign will ultimately benefit him in the long term.

Russell suffered another retirement at the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps after an opening-lap clash with seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton. In addition to the collision, which left him beached in the gravel, Russell had already encountered an unexpected loss of electrical deployment off the line.

The DNF heavily impacted Russell's title challenge against his team-mate Kimi Antonelli and Hamilton. Having been second in the standings and 25 points behind championship leader Antonelli prior to the weekend, Russell now sits third, 50 points behind the Italian and five points behind Hamilton.

Montoya argued that facing these challenges will force Russell to become a better driver in the long run.

"I think personally, being in this low [moment] is a really good thing for him," Montoya said on the F1 TV post-race show. "For this year it is not, but for the long term, he has come to the realisation that things need to get better.

"When he started the season, he thought what he was doing was the best of anybody here, and he was going to win the championship. He's gone through a process that you could say sucks for him, but he's come to a better place.

"At the moment, he wants to rebuild, and he knows there are things he can do better, and he knows the team needs to do things better. When you go through stuff like this, you come out a much better driver, a much more mature person as well."

George Russell, Mercedes (Photo by: Sona Maleterova / Getty Images)

Montoya also praised Mercedes for publicly supporting its drivers and refusing to blame them.

"Mercedes is very good at helping, managing, and looking after the drivers," Montoya added. "You never hear them throw the drivers under the bus. Other teams love doing that.

"That's why I think George is a really good fit at Mercedes because he's such a good team player. He's all about the team, about building and doing it better."

There is now just one more round before the summer break. The Hungarian Grand Prix will take place from 24 to 26 July.

Photos from Belgian GP - Sunday

50 Formula 1

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari; Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

George Russell, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

George Russell, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Alpine F1 Team pit lane message

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Alexander Albon, Williams, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Andy Stevenson, Sporting Director, Aston Martin F1 Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

George Russell, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Jacques Villeneuve arrives in the paddock.

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

George Russell, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

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