George Russell issues Mercedes instruction after Mexico team order drama

George Russell believes his Mercedes team should have been more decisive and acted immediately, "or not at all," following the team orders drama which unfolded in the Mexico City Grand Prix. 

Russell was running in fifth place with around 30 laps to go in Mexico and was behind team-mate Kimi Antonelli, who in turn was behind shock contender Oliver Bearman for Haas, running in third. 

Behind him, Russell had Oscar Piastri harrying trying to rescue precious world championship points, with Russell believing he had enough pace to attack Bearman if waved through by Antonelli - and even offered to cede back the position if he could not. 

Whilst he was trying to make his case, race engineer Marcus Dudley instructed him to try and cool his rear tyre temperatures, to which Russell gave a colourful response, bleeped out by FOM when broadcast live.

Eventually he was let past by Antonelli, but could not pass Bearman as a second round of pit-stops was triggered, with Antonelli let back through as promised to finish sixth, with Russell seventh. 

It is the first time all-season Antonelli has finished ahead of Russell in a grand prix.

Reflecting afterwards, Russell has explained how the team should have acted immediately.

"Ordinarily, we work as a team, and we're in a fight for P2 in the championship, and I could see Kimi was struggling to get past Bearman," Russell told media, including RacingNews365. 

"I was in his DRS train, so when my tyres were in a good place, I was ready to attack, and ultimately, we left it too long, and by that point, there was no need to swap positions. Either do it straight away or not at all."

When then pressed by RacingNews365 on his apparent frustration with Dudley, Russell explained how the talks would take place.

"Marcus, ultimately, is conveying a message. He's not the one in that position making the decisions," Russell continued.

"So we need to sit down and talk as a team. Ultimately, I'm not battling Kimi in a championship or a fight, we're battling Ferrari and Red Bull for the [runner-up spot in the] championship, and we finished P6 and P7, and it could have worked out differently."