George Russell sent ‘trouble town’ warning if nightmare scenario occurs at Canadian GP

Mercedes driver George Russell will be in 'trouble town' if a worst-case result occurs at the Canadian Grand Prix, according to Jolyon Palmer.

Russell won the first Grand Prix of the season in Australia, but hasn't stood on the top step of the podium in any of the last three races.

Instead, his Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli has won three consecutive races, and is 20 points clear at the top of the Drivers' Championship standings.

As the drivers prepare for the fifth Grand Prix of the season at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Russell is starting to be placed under pressure to deliver.

He has finished off the podium in fourth place in the last two races, while he also finished fourth in the sprint in Miami last time out.

Speaking to SPORTbible via Lottoland, F1TV pundit Palmer believes that Russell is in 'trouble town' if he loses out to Antonelli again in Montreal.

'He's got to find something...' - Palmer on Russell

"It feels like a big moment in the year, Montreal," the former Renault driver said. "George came into the season almost as a guaranteed title win.

"Mercedes had this rocket ship car. It felt like George has been building up for years to be in this position. He's finally got the best car. He outperformed Lewis, but Mercedes didn't have the best car.

"Now, he's in this position. This feels like it has to be his championship. But Kimi's stepped up really well. Obviously in Miami, Kimi was amazing, won the race.

"George has been struggling a little bit. But the one thing that you can cling on to, if you're George, is the fact that Kimi was already really good in Miami last year. He was already good in Japan last year, where he also won [in 2026].

George Russell has won one of the opening four Grands Prix in 2026 (Image: Getty)

"George was a bit unlucky in China, so the comparison there is difficult. There's kind of mitigation for George up until this point.

"I think Montreal is one where you'd flip it around and say, this has been one where George is really strong. He won the race last year when Mercedes didn't have a great car. He was on pole the year before when Mercedes really didn't have a great car.

"Now Mercedes do have a great car, I'm expecting George to turn it around and put it together this weekend. It's a sprint weekend as well, so you've got to get down to it really quickly.

"I think if Kimi still beats George this weekend, I think we're into trouble town for George. I think, then, he's got to find something, dig deep and come back, because it's a long road.

"If he gets back in Canada, I think it's back in his hands and back in his control."