Kimi Antonelli holds a 43-point lead over Mercedes teammate George Russell heading into the Monaco Grand Prix this weekend. The pair have agreed to race freely with mutual respect after an on-track clash in Canada. Will Buxton has tipped Russell to challenge strongly on the street circuit.
The Monaco Grand Prix marks the start of the European season from 5-7 June. Antonelli secured victories in China, Japan, Miami and Canada after Russell's early wins in Australia and the Chinese sprint race. The drivers reviewed their Canada incident and confirmed team instructions allow them to compete as long as they avoid damaging either car. Antonelli stated that Mercedes wants both to finish and score points while still permitting hard racing. Russell described being trusted to push limits without live intervention from the pit wall. He sits 43 points behind after a battery failure ended his Canadian lead. Antonelli dismissed suggestions that the title is his to lose, noting 17 races remain and emphasizing a focus on each event. Russell was seen pushing his broken Fiat Jolly in Monte Carlo this week.
