There was a surprise omission from the Miami Grand Prix top three drivers press conference and now we know why.

Many Formula 1 viewers hold on to hear from the podium finishers on race weekends, but were struck by an empty seat next to race winner Oscar Piastri and second-placed Lando Norris.

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Alongside them should’ve been Mercedes’ George Russell, but he didn’t arrive, with the presenter of the press conference explaining the Brit was excused for ‘medical reasons’.

The McLaren duo looked rather surprised by the announcement, particularly given that the FIA top three drivers press conference is their last media duty of the day.

Russell had already got through the podium ceremony and broadcast pen, where he told the BBC he was struggling.

“I’m feeling really ill right now,” he explained. “It happens to me maybe twice per season, sometimes to do with my breakfast. 

“I had a slightly different breakfast this morning, I woke up early and had some avocado toast which was probably not the smartest idea at seven in the morning.

“Then I had a flat white which probably wasn’t smart either, so there are some reasons for this.”

Jennie Gow, the BBC reporter who conducted the interview, later explained how bad things were for the 27-year-old.

“He was in so much pain during that interview,” she said on the Chequered Flag Podcast. 

“He changed up his breakfast this morning and it’s playing havoc with his stomach – physically he was on the ground clutching his stomach.

“He said it happens once or twice a year. He said he felt like he was pregnant, his poor tummy!”

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While all of this was going on, Russell also had to contend with a Red Bull protest over his podium.

Red Bull claimed that the Mercedes driver did not slow significantly for a single waved yellow flag during the race when Oliver Bearman crashed.

That protest was rejected by the race stewards, allowing Russell to keep Mercedes’ first-ever podium in Miami.

It was also Russell’s fourth rostrum of the season, the same total he managed in the entirety of 2024.

Fourth in the driver standings and only six points behind reigning world champion Max Verstappen in third, Russell has been one of the standouts this season and discussed his campaign after.

“I feel we’ve reached the potential of the car’s performance every race weekend,” he said.

“I don’t think there’s been a single race weekend where we could’ve achieved a greater result.

“We’re second in the teams’ championship but I don’t think we have the second quickest car, at best we’ve had the third fastest, but we keep coming away with these podiums.”

2025 Driver Standings