Kimi Antonelli maintains title momentum over George Russell before British GP
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli insists he still holds the momentum in the Formula 1 championship battle against team-mate George Russell ahead of the British Grand Prix.
The Italian teenager has seen his commanding advantage in the drivers’ standings slashed from 68 points to 40 over the past two rounds.
A costly retirement in Barcelona was immediately followed by a frustrating third-place finish in Austria last weekend.
Meanwhile, his British garage counterpart secured a crucial victory at the Red Bull Ring to suddenly close the title gap.
Fire still burning for championship leader
Despite these recent setbacks, the current standings leader remains resolute about his underlying pace.
“Yeah, of course, I have a big fire inside of me because the last two races didn’t go well, considering the pace we had.”
He noted that the Spanish Grand Prix was progressing perfectly before an unfortunate mechanical issue forced an early exit.
Reflecting on his Austrian performance, the young racer admitted to a lapse in concentration during qualifying which compromised his tyre strategy.
Early brake struggles and a messy opening stint further hindered his progress on race day.
“Without that, I would have had a better chance to fight for the victory, or at least P2. For sure it’s been, let’s not say difficult, but I can put things more together and maximise better the result.”
Silverstone showdown looms for Mercedes duo
Twelve months ago, the rising star suffered a noticeable dip in form during the crucial European leg of the calendar.
However, he firmly believes he has evolved as a competitor and anticipates a highly competitive weekend at Silverstone.
“The car is very strong but of course we expect Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari to be up there as well.”
Across the garage, the British Grand Prix represents a historic hurdle for his closest championship rival.
The Norfolk-born contender has never finished higher than fifth at his home event, suffering two retirements over the past four years.
Despite this challenging track record, the recent Austrian race winner insists he is driving with unprecedented confidence and feels no extra pressure to deliver a home victory.