1997 Formula 1 champion Jacques Villeneuve believes George Russell's "smoother" driving style gives him an upper hand over his Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
As the grid prepares for the seventh round of the 2026 season, the intra-team dynamic at Mercedes continues to be under scrutiny from fans and the media. While Russell was a clear favourite heading into the season, Antonelli has surprised many with five consecutive wins in China, Japan, Miami, Canada and Monaco.
