System 1 championship chief Kimi Antonelli has shrugged off ideas by his team-mate that the 2026 title is now his to lose.
Antonelli at present holds a 43-point benefit over second-placed Russell, who was the pre-season favorite, after 4 wins on the bounce contained in the opening 5 rounds.
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It comes after Russell suffered a expensive retirement from the lead in Montreal, which he reckons now means Antonelli is in pole place to assert Mercedes’ first drivers’ title since in 2020.
“Proper now, it is his to lose. He is so many factors forward,” mentioned Russell after the facility unit failure final outing. “However the stress is off, exit, take pleasure in each single race, attempt to win each single race. I’ve obtained nothing to lose.”
Whether or not Russell is consciously attempting to dump any title stress immediately onto the 19-year-old’s shoulders or not, Antonelli has shrugged off the notion that the title is his to lose.
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“No, to be truthful, I do not actually give approach to that line, as a result of it is so early within the season, nonetheless 17 extra races left and it is nonetheless very, very early to assume or discuss in regards to the championship,” mentioned Antonelli forward of this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix.
“I attempt to do my greatest, every time I’m going within the automobile, I attempt to maximise the outcome, after which we’ll see the place we find yourself on the finish of the season. However I additionally assume it is tough to consider dropping one thing when you do not even have it. I did not win the championship. How can I lose one thing that I did not even obtain?”
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, George Russell, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, George Russell, Mercedes
Alongside the technical challenges of the 2025 ground-effect Mercedes, Antonelli’s greatest lesson of final 12 months’s rookie marketing campaign was coping with the skin stress and expectation throughout a densely packed European season.
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It included two draining residence weekends in Imola and Monza as two of the tougher weekends of his fledgling profession.
Recent off gathering the Lorenzo Bandini Trophy final week at a busy occasion within the city of Brisighella, near his residence city of Bologna, Antonelli vows the extreme scrutiny from his Italian fanbase will not be knocking him off his perch this time.
“I do not really feel that a lot stress,” he insisted. “I really feel fairly relaxed in regards to the state of affairs as a result of it’s nonetheless very early on into the season, and I simply need to carry on doing what I am doing, attempting to boost the bar and attempting to win as a lot as attainable.
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“In fact, I do know expectations are rising, and as I am Italian myself, I understand how emotional we’re and the way excited we will get about issues.
“However it was a fantastic occasion and it is unbelievable to see a lot assist. However I’ll strive to not get carried away by these expectations, I am simply going to attempt to keep centered on what I’ve to do within the course of, after which attempt to ship the perfect outcome attainable.
“In fact, George is an excellent sturdy team-mate, and he’ll make my life very laborious, however on my facet, I simply attempt to cope with it the easiest way attainable in each state of affairs.”
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Images from Monaco GP – ThursdayLewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Lily Collins, Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
Lily Collins, Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
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Vehicle Membership de Monaco mascot
Vehicle Membership de Monaco mascot
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Automobile of Mechanics work on the automobile of Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Automobile of Mechanics work on the automobile of Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Frederic Vasseur, Scuderia Ferrari Group Principal
Frederic Vasseur, Scuderia Ferrari Group Principal
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Cadillac entrance wing element
Cadillac entrance wing element
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George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
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Alexander Albon, Williams
Alexander Albon, Williams
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Automobile of Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing
Automobile of Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing
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Emerson Fittipaldi
Emerson Fittipaldi
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Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Group
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Group
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Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
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Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Group
Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Group
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Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
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Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
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George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
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Mechanics work on the automobile of Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Mechanics work on the automobile of Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Dan Towriss, Cadillac CEO and his spouse Cassidy
Dan Towriss, Cadillac CEO and his spouse Cassidy
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Mattia Binotto, Audi
Mattia Binotto, Audi
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Automobile of Carlos Sainz, Williams
Automobile of Carlos Sainz, Williams
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
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Audi entrance wing element
Audi entrance wing element
Filip Cleeren
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
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Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Group
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Group
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Franco Colapinto, Alpine
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Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Group
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Group
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Alexander Albon, Williams
Alexander Albon, Williams
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George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Automobile of Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Automobile of Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Group
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Group
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George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
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Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
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Lily Collins
Lily Collins
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Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
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Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Group
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Group
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Mika Häkkinen, McLaren M2B
Mika Häkkinen, McLaren M2B
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Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
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A basic view of the harbour
A basic view of the harbour
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