Helmut Marko is pessimistic about George Russell’s future in Formula 1 as Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli closes in on the title.

Antonelli can seal the championship at the United States Grand Prix this weekend if he wins, Russell finishes ninth or lower and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton finishes fifth or lower. While that combination of events is highly unlikely, it’s only a matter of time before the Italian is crowned.

Russell entered the year as the strong favourite given the confidence around Mercedes and his commanding advantage over Antonelli last season, but he now finds himself 102 points behind with just six rounds to go.

Helmut Marko: George Russell has suffered ‘a huge mental setback’

Speaking to Sky Sports Germany and RTL, former Red Bull advisor Marko said Antonelli had supplanted Russell as the ‘number one’ driver at Mercedes. He fears the Briton’s stock has been irreparably damaged this year.

Mercedes‘ dominance at the start of the season suggested Russell would have multiple chances to win the title, but rivals have closed in faster than expected. They have been beaten in five of the last nine Grands Prix.

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“It’s certainly a huge mental setback and a blow,” Marko said. “Russell is no longer the number one driver. That position has clearly been taken over by Antonelli.

“[Russell was] one of the top drivers. I doubt whether he will ever have another chance at the world championship or whether he will achieve number one status anywhere.”

For years, Russell said he was just waiting for the right car so he could show his talent, but when that car arrived, he was upstaged by his young teammate.

Kimi Antonelli winning the title will be ‘incredibly positive for Formula 1’

Antonelli, 20, is poised to smash Sebastian Vettel’s record and become F1’s youngest champion by three years.

Marko, who brought Vettel into F1 and was always a champion of young talent, has found the sport’s newest phenomenon refreshing to watch.

“It’s delightful to see the youthful joy and mischievousness with which he gets out of the car after a victory,” he said. “And yes, it’s incredibly positive for Formula 1.”

Antonelli has won eight races this year, and no other driver has more than three. His haul of 14 podiums is nearly double the next-best (eight for Russell and Max Verstappen).