George Russell scored a second-place finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which completed a fantastic turnaround from the British driver.
Having missed his media duties, on Thursday, through illness, he very nearly withdrew from the weekend's action.
However, the Mercedes driver ploughed on and converted fifth on the grid into his first podium finish since the summer break, trailing just Max Verstappen at the chequered flag.
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How the nature of Azerbaijan kept Russell in contention
As demonstrated on Saturday, the Baku City Street Circuit can be brutal and punishing. A record of six red flags were brought out during qualifying, with the chaotic weather conditions wreaking havoc.
However, unless bottoming under high loads becomes a problem, the track is not the most physically arduous for the levels of fitness that a Formula 1 driver holds and that was a massive plus for Russell, who would have dropped out of the race had the physical demands have been greater.
He told media, including independent.co.uk: "I was pretty glad when I saw the chequered flag, to be honest. I felt much better today than I felt on Friday and Saturday.
"Fortunately it was Baku [where he had the infection], even though it's one of the toughest circuits, mentally and physically it's maybe one of the easiest."
"Had it been Singapore, as an example. I think I probably would have called it a day on Friday, to be honest, and probably wouldn't have done the race."
Toto Wolff, the Silver Arrows' team principal, has yet to renew Russell's services for 2026, but was not short in commending his driver's efforts, and added: "On Friday morning it was nearly Valtteri [Bottas] in the car and George himself said 'I'm not sure I can do it'.
"Doing a one-and-a-half hour race, here in Baku, not putting a single foot wrong; that was a super-merited P2."
The next race, in Singapore, is notorious for how much it physically punishes the drivers. A matter of kilograms are lost by the drivers, across more than 60 laps, where the humidity is enormous, even at night.
From flu to P2 🤒🥈
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 21, 2025
A brilliant effort from an under-par @GeorgeRussell63 👏👏#F1 #AzerbaijanGP pic.twitter.com/tghnanM5Mw
Antonelli's return to form
After Wolff had publicly lamented his performance at his home race, at Monza, Antonelli secured his best result since June's Canadian Grand Prix, finishing just behind Carlos Sainz's third-placed Williams.
Yet more encouragingly for the Italian teenager was that he out-qualified Russell on Saturday, in conditions that are more testing of a rookie. It was also just the second time that the Italian bettered Russell in grand prix qualifying this season.
Admittedly, Russell was not at his best and responded on Sunday, but it is a huge boost for the 19-year-old, whose dreary run of races since his breakthrough podium had seen him slip behind Alex Albon in the drivers' championship.
Overall for Mercedes, their trip to Baku was both productive and integral in their fight for second place in the constructors' championship. With Ferrari scoring just six points, the Silver Arrows have now overtaken them for second place and now sit just four ahead.
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