– World Championship leader Kimi Antonelli denies the suggestions of his Mercedes teammate George Russell, who, after his retirement in Canada, had stated that the Italian could only lose the 2026 title: “At the moment, it’s up to him not to lose the title. He has so many points ahead,” Russell had said in Montreal.
Read more Sainz hits out: Williams far too slow even without excess weight
He himself, given a 43-point deficit in the championship, no longer feels any pressure and has nothing to lose: “I go out, enjoy every single race, try to win every single race,” said the Briton.
Regardless of whether Russell is consciously trying to shift the championship pressure directly onto the 19-year-old’s shoulders or not, Antonelli has rejected the idea that the title already belongs to him after only five of 22 planned races: “No, to be honest, I don’t believe that argument, because it’s still so early in the season,” he dismisses.
Still far too early to think about the title
“There are still 17 races left, and it’s still far too early to think or talk about the championship,” says Antonelli. “I’m trying my best. Every time I get in the car, I try to maximize the result, and then we’ll see where we stand at the end of the season”.
Photo gallery: Formula 1 drivers who took their first two wins consecutively
“But I also think it’s difficult to think about losing something when you don’t even have it yet,” he continues. “I haven’t won the championship. How can I lose something I haven’t even achieved yet?”
Besides the technical challenges with the 2025 ground-effect Mercedes, Antonelli’s most important lesson from his rookie season last year was dealing with external pressure and expectations during a packed European season. The demanding home weekends in Imola and Monza were among the greater challenges of his still young career.
Read more George Russell: Kimi will also have bad luck at some point!
Antonelli: Is he coping better with pressure now?
Freshly awarded the Lorenzo Bandini Trophy, which he received last week at a well-attended event in Brisighella near his hometown of Bologna, Antonelli swears that the intense scrutiny from his Italian fans will not unsettle him this time.
“I don’t feel that much pressure,” he emphasizes. “I’m quite relaxed in this situation because it’s still very early in the season. I just want to continue as before, raise the bar, and win as much as possible.”
“Of course, I know that expectations are growing. Being Italian myself, I know how emotional we are and how passionate we can be about things. But it was a great event, and it’s incredible to see so much support,” says the youngster.
“I will try not to get carried away by these expectations. I will try to focus on what I have to do in this process and then deliver the best possible result.”
“Of course, George is an extremely strong teammate, and he will make my life very difficult, but for my part, I just try to deal with it as best as possible in every situation.”
Read more Too late in the press conference: Penalties for Leclerc and Norris?
