Kimi Antonelli brushed off comments from Mercedes teammate George Russell that the Formula 1 title is his to lose, insisting he remains the underdog despite a growing championship lead.
After the Monaco Grand Prix, Antonelli extended his advantage to 68 points over Russell, who finished 12th following penalties. The 19-year-old Italian secured pole position, led every lap and set the fastest lap to become the youngest driver to achieve a grand slam. Speaking to Motorsport.com during the Monaco weekend, Antonelli said the comments were typical mind games. “It’s not the first time we’ve seen mind games,” he stated. “Fortunately, those things don’t really affect me.” He emphasized a race-by-race approach with at least 16 rounds remaining. “We’re still only in the first third of the season, and I think it’s definitely too early to start talking about a title showdown,” Antonelli said. He added that he has “nothing to lose” since he has not yet won a championship. Antonelli also noted Russell’s experience made him the pre-season favorite. “Before the season started, everyone saw George as the clear favourite,” he explained, while highlighting his own potential for further improvement.
