Helmut Marko spoke about the 2026 Formula 1 season. The Austrian executive showed enthusiasm for the progress made by Kimi Antonelli and believes that the title fight will be internal at Mercedes.
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After three rounds contested in the championship, it is the young Italian who appears at the top of the standings. With two wins against one by George Russell, he has a 22-point lead at the top of the table.
Therefore, for Marko, Antonelli is a strong name, just maintain the good performance. “His entire attitude is very refreshing. He was already incredibly fast in all the junior categories, and it’s great to see a young driver like him emerging,” he told ORF.
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“The question is whether he will be able to maintain that speed and performance throughout the season. Russell is certainly the more experienced driver, and last year, when the races were moved to Europe, Antonelli suffered a significant drop in performance,” he continued.
“But it will be exciting within the team, because the championship will certainly be decided between the two Mercedes drivers.”
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