George Russell has come up with a tongue-in-cheek plan to stop Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli from clinching the Formula 1 championship at the United States Grand Prix: take him out drinking.
Antonelli has the chance to claim his maiden F1 title as he heads into the race at the Circuit of the Americas with a 102-point lead over second-placed Russell in the standings. To secure the title, the Italian driver would need to win the United States Grand Prix, with Russell finishing outside of the top eight and Lewis Hamilton outside of the top four.
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The two Mercedes drivers appeared together at a fan forum ahead of the race weekend, where Russell joked that a night out in Austin could be his best chance of closing the gap to Antonelli.
“I could take you drinking,” Russell told Antonelli in a clip widely shared on social media. “Actually, this could be a good way to beat you in the championship, to get you arrested on Sunday night.”
The joke drew laughs from the crowd, especially as the 20-year-old has not yet reached the legal drinking age in the US.
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“I really like Russell’s mentality. He gets way too much hate, but he’s accepted that this year he’s not done enough, and he just wants to get through it,” one fan commented on Reddit, while another added: “It’s a joke, unless…”
“Now George is starting to get the right idea! Really, though, I admire him being good-natured and joking about it,” someone else posted.
Further reactions included: “You can see the look on his face afterwards; it’s like ‘You know what, that’s not a bad idea. In for a penny, in for a pound,'” and “George thinking out loud.”
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The United States Grand Prix kicks off the penultimate triple-header of the season and will take place on Sunday 25 October.
Photos from F1 United States GP – Saturday
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Ronaldo Schemidt / AFP via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
Clive Mason – Getty Images
An inflatable F1 car
Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Clive Mason – Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
Mark Thompson / Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
Bryn Lennon / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Adrian Newey, Aston Martin Racing
Adrian Newey, Aston Martin Racing
James Sutton / LAT Images via Getty Images
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Bryn Lennon / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, George Russell, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, George Russell, Mercedes
Bryn Lennon / Formula 1 via Getty Images
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Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing, Kayna Lang arrive in the paddock.
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing, Kayna Lang arrive in the paddock.
Peter Fox / Getty Images
Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
Manuel Eletto
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
Chris Graythen / Getty Images
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Manuel Eletto
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Chris Graythen / Getty Images
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team
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The FIA Safety Car
Clive Mason – Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Ronaldo Schemidt / AFP via Getty Images
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team, Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Team
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team, Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Team
Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
Chris Graythen / Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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George Russell, Mercedes
Ronaldo Schemidt / AFP via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Alessio Morgese / NurPhoto via Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Peter Fox / Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
James Sutton / LAT Images via Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Alex Bierens de Haan / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
James Sutton / LAT Images via Getty Images
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