Nicely, in China he solely had George Russell to beat – and George had a problem in qualifying. That victory wasn’t, in fact, gifted to Kimi Antonelli – but nonetheless, when the Silver Arrows dominate with such a margin and a team-mate faces some adversity, a driver of a high crew ought to be capable of run away with such a possibility, proper?
Japan is a complete different story, with a well timed security automotive. Had that not appeared so conveniently for Antonelli throughout what was set to be a tough race for him following a poor begin, he wouldn’t be main the championship after Suzuka. Sure, he maximised that chance too, and seemed very convincing within the remaining a part of the race – nonetheless, there was lots for naysayers to latch onto and doubters to doubt.
A pinch of luck, clearly the most effective automotive on the grid, some misfortune for Russell – and also you’ve already acquired sufficient components to minimize Antonelli’s victories in Asia again in March.
It’s relatively tough to select fault along with his efficiency in Miami, although. McLaren, Ferrari and Purple Bull Racing arrived within the US with main upgrades, and it wasn’t Russell anymore who gave the impression to be Antonelli’s principal challenger. Extra so, the Italian was not solely higher than his team-mate all through the entire weekend – however by an enormous margin.
Bear in mind when it was George who was nearly unquestionably thought of the title favorite forward of the season? Nicely, if anybody nonetheless thought so forward of Miami, they may must rethink.
George Russell clearly struggled in Miami
Picture by: Guido De Bortoli / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
In Miami, it was the pre-season favorite who needed to search for excuses. Sure, the truth that rivals may nearly completely eradicate Mercedes’ tempo benefit in a single go – with a single improve package deal – got here as a little bit of a shock. Antonelli confirmed there’s nonetheless sufficient pace within the W17 to combat for victory, however the cushion is now gone – a minimum of till Mercedes brings its personal upgraded model of the automotive to Canada. And given how effectively the Silver Arrows have carried out in Montreal lately, we might effectively see them dominating there once more.
However Miami confirmed the entire of 2026 is unlikely to be a stroll within the park for Mercedes. Toto Wolff nonetheless wants his drivers to make the distinction – and it wasn’t Russell in Miami.
True, it’s not tough to see George’s level: he struggled in Miami final 12 months, too. After Saturday working, he did reveal what hadn’t been broadly identified about his weaknesses.
“This can be a monitor I’ve all the time struggled with,” he stated. “Kimi was pole final 12 months, I used to be P5, immediately he is pole and I am P5. It is simply very low grip right here, you are sliding round loads, tarmac’s scorching. Much like Brazil, Kimi once more was extra aggressive than me there. Whereas I a lot want the excessive grip circumstances, the place the tyre and the automotive is extra related with the bottom. So, yeah, I simply wish to get by means of this weekend, actually.”
And whereas the idea stacks up – and Antonelli certainly seemed stronger in Sao Paulo final 12 months – for him to reveal that weak spot of Russell’s so clearly after simply over a 12 months in System 1 is nothing wanting spectacular.
On Sunday, Antonelli needed to combat for his victory like by no means earlier than. Charles Leclerc made his life tough within the opening section, after which Lando Norris chased him down all through the second stint. He wanted to be flawless – and he was.
It’s nonetheless far too early to declare the younger Italian a title favorite, and it’s clear he’ll attempt to distance himself from such ideas as a lot as potential – however each are relatively tough to do with Kimi’s lead within the championship now stretching to twenty factors.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Toto Wolff, Mercedes
Picture by: Chris Graythen / Getty Photographs
“That’s the danger that he is been carried away too rapidly,” Toto Wolff stated throughout his media session on Sunday night, addressing not solely journalists within the room, but in addition Kimi’s father. “And due to this fact, I do know with the dad and mom, we all know that the dad and mom are going to maintain him grounded. Proper, Marco?”
“Proper, proper,” smiled Antonelli Sr.
“I feel that it is astounding,” Wolff continued. “I feel these few races, in a means, what we predicted as a crew, that we might have ups and downs final season, moments of brilliance, moments the place you wish to tear your hair out. And this 12 months, it is coming collectively. I do not assume that any of us would have anticipated this sort of run. Provided that the automotive is excellent, an engine that’s proper – However how he has been capable of simply, you realize, monetise on that each single week, it’s particular.”
Conserving each toes on the bottom now appears to be Antonelli’s greatest problem. The pace that prompted Wolff final 12 months to speed up the Italian’s promotion to F1 is now evident and plain. The flexibility to deal with stress can be on show. It wasn’t simply final Sunday – it was clearly seen final 12 months in Brazil, the place Antonelli needed to defend in opposition to Max Verstappen within the closing phases.
Now, Kimi must again it up with consistency. Three wins in a row could be very spectacular, but not a lot has gone unsuitable for him to date this season – and there will probably be races the place he’ll want to beat adversity.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Picture by: CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP by way of Getty Photographs
“Once you look all through his trajectory in karting and within the junior formulation, he was simply excellent,” Wolff stated on Sunday. “When you concentrate on what we stated final 12 months, it is precisely how his efficiency, how his growth occurred. We had these nice ups, moments of brilliance after which moments the place he was allowed to make errors. We would have liked to calibrate and proceed to mentor him whereas nonetheless placing stress on him.
“He simply takes it away. He is capable of analyse it, however then do not overthink it. He compartmentalises it. ‘Okay, I made a mistake, I put it away’. After which, increase, this 12 months we begin the season: he is seen the grand prix, he is labored with the crew, he is aware of the stress that the media places upon him…
“However nonetheless, we simply actually need to remain calm right here. So successful, [for] such a younger man at that stage.
“So, the household and us, we’re actually…”
Wolff turned to Antonelli Sr as soon as once more.
“You are the primary one really to relax! Marco is fairly good at conserving his son grounded, even when he is profitable. And I feel all of us collectively which might be near him, we have to maintain re-emphasising and repeating the message. This can be a lengthy sport. He has a killer of a team-mate that’s extraordinarily quick. The others are catching up in efficiency. And we wish to play the lengthy sport. He can hopefully win many championships over 10 years, 15 years. And we do not wish to stumble now with these big expectations that we set on him. As a result of the second he has a nasty race, which is able to occur, when he makes a mistake, individuals will say, ‘Oh, possibly Kimi will not be the one celebrity that we thought [he was]’. And that is why – let’s maintain that trajectory.
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“He is 19 years previous. I do not assume I used to be capable of take my very own flight once I was 19. And discover my solution to the terminal of the airport. So, it is unimaginable what he is doing.”
Oscar Piastri didn’t actually handle the stress of main the championship final 12 months – exhibiting how tough it’s to remain cool when the title is at stake.
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