George Russell delivered 'cut-throat' instruction as Mercedes danger looms

George Russell has been told he needs to be more “cut-throat” in his fight against Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli.

After Russell won the opening round of the campaign in Australia, Antonelli responded with back-to-back wins in China and Japan to take hold of the lead in the drivers' standings.

Mercedes' strong advantage at the head of the F1 pecking order has left many to consider the Silver Arrows as the heavy favourites in the title battle.

But as the pair battle it out, former IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe highlighted Russell's struggles are an example of how a driver is not always in control, having lost out in Japan due to a poorly timed safety car.

“Racing still has variables that you can't control,” Hinchcliffe told the F1 Nation podcast.

“You could still have two, three bad weekends in a row - maybe nothing to do with yourself - that if you have allowed your team-mate to be too close to you at that stage, all of a sudden that power dynamic can shift into their favour.”

Jolyon Palmer, former F1 driver and Hinchcliffe's podcast co-host, highlighted that Russell took a ruthless approach during his junior career.

Hinchcliffe insisted it's a mindset that Russell needs to adopt once again in his quest for the title.

“Right from the drop now, George has to be a little bit more cut-throat,” Hinchcliffe said.

“Some of those traits that you were talking about Jolyon, that you saw from his junior formula car career, have to come out. 

“They've got to play that game. If you look at George's season last year, how consistent he was, how good he was at maximising on a weekend.

“China was still a little bit... There were issues on George's side that contributed to it. Kimi still hasn't got off the line well, once in four cracks at it. 

“So there are still things in his game that need to improve, whereas I think George is already at such a high level, which you would come to expect at someone in their eighth season versus their second.”