Mercedes driver George Russell (left) trails teammate Kimi Antonelli (right) by 123 points in the drivers' title race ahead of the Mexico City GP. (EPA Images pic)MEXICO CITY: George Russell admitted Thursday that his "great relationship" with teammate and title rival Kimi Antonelli had not suffered this year because he has been unable to match his on-track performances.
Antonelli, 20, is poised to become Formula One's youngest champion and first Italian since 1953 by finishing ninth or better in Sunday's Mexico City Grand Prix, leaving pre-season title favourite Russell, 28, in a scrap for second place.
The pair have not clashed in races as many previous championship rivals have done, resulting in a breakdown in personal relations and the creation of bitter rivalries as infamously exemplified by four-time champion Alain Prost and three-time champion Ayrton Senna at McLaren in the late 1980s.
