Formula 1 gained a new scenario in the title fight after Kimi Antonelli’s victory in Miami. The result extended the young driver’s lead over his Mercedes teammate, George Russell, to twenty points.
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Even with the Italian’s rise in the championship, Russell made it clear that he does not underestimate his teammate’s performance. Still, the Briton emphasized that he remains confident in a recovery throughout the season.
“No, not at all. He is a fantastic driver and has been extremely fast from the start. You don’t win titles in the junior categories without speed,” he said. Russell highlighted that he believes in his own ability: “I haven’t forgotten how to drive, it’s just a slightly complicated situation, but there is still a long way to go,” he said.
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The Mercedes driver admitted difficulties throughout the weekend in Miami but pointed out positive signs at the end of the race: “I have some ideas about the difference. In the last ten laps, we were much more competitive, we made important changes to the differential and brake setup, closer to what Kimi used. The impact was greater than I expected, but it still wasn’t a good weekend,” he added.
Even with this setback, Russell believes that the recent adjustments can serve as a basis for the upcoming stages. The expectation is that future circuits will favor the Mercedes car more, which could help quickly reduce the gap in the championship.
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