The Formula 1 paddock has arrived in Spain ahead of the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, which begins with practice sessions on Friday 12 June. David Coulthard has backed George Russell to secure a victory this weekend and halt Kimi Antonelli's streak of five consecutive grand prix wins.
Antonelli leads the drivers' championship with 156 points after his latest triumph at the Monaco Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton sits second on 90 points, while Russell is third with 88 points.
Coulthard said on the Up To Speed podcast: "I think it's going to be George's comeback. George is going to be winning in Barcelona, and he's going to come out swinging." Will Buxton countered that Antonelli would likely claim a sixth straight win.
Antonelli, who reflected on his difficult 2025 rookie season, told Autosport he was grateful for the experience. "Considering how bad it was in the moment, actually, I'm very grateful that it happened because it made me grow a lot," he said on Thursday.
The 19-year-old Mercedes driver has described feeling more confident this season but noted questions remain about his potential.
