Kimi Antonelli has consolidated an important advantage over George Russell within Mercedes in the 2026 Formula 1 season, according to Ralf Schumacher. For the former driver of the category, the Italian has clearly assumed the position of the team’s main driver.
Read more F1: Coulthard is surprised by Hamilton’s reaction on the radio
Antonelli’s second place in Zandvoort extended his lead in the championship. Russell, despite having won the Sprint race on Saturday, now occupies second place in the drivers’ standings and is 59 points behind his teammate.
Schumacher mainly highlighted Antonelli’s consistency. The Italian finished in the top three in ten of the twelve races contested, while the two races where he was off the podium were marked by technical problems: “He keeps delivering, does consistent work and makes no mistakes. In this aspect, he is clearly the best driver on the team,” Schumacher said on the Backstage Boxengasse program. The German also pointed out that Antonelli still has room to improve, considering his lesser experience compared to Russell.
Read more F3: Pedro Clerot completes Rodin Motorsport program in collective tests in Madrid
Although he has won only one of the last six races, Antonelli maintains a consistent sequence of results and continues to lead the championship. For Schumacher, this performance would already have made Russell realize the change of scenario within Mercedes.
“In my opinion, Kimi is clearly Mercedes’ number one, and I think Russell understood that,” Schumacher said. The former driver advised the Brit to accept the situation, focus on each race, and try to beat Antonelli on the track, but also to reduce the intensity in how he internally handles the rivalry.
Read more Domenicali celebrates Verstappen’s stay at Red Bull: «I can’t imagine F1 without him»
