Kimi Antonelli is just four points behind championship leader George Russell in the drivers’ championship – but Günther Steiner does not believe the Italian has a chance of winning the world championship
Mercedes youngster Kimi Antonelli celebrated his first Formula 1 victory in China and is only four points behind leader and team-mate George Russell in the drivers’ championship. Nevertheless, former Haas team boss Günther Steiner does not believe that the 19-year-old Italian has a serious chance of winning the world championship crown.
“No,” Steiner makes clear in the current podcast The Red Flags. “Unless something special happens, as was the case in China in qualifying. And the good thing is that he took his chance there, but under normal circumstances … I think it’s also understandable why not.“
What Steiner means by this, he adds himself: ”The boy is 19 years old, in his second year in Formula 1, and George is a good racing driver,” says the South Tyrolean. “So I don’t think he can make it this year, but there are still other chances for Kimi.”
“If he doesn’t win [the world championship] this year, he can win it another time because he is so young. I don’t think he needs to put so much pressure on himself to win this year. He has a promising future ahead of him.”
Steiner: “Very difficult under normal circumstances”
Nevertheless, the victory in China was an important milestone. “I think it gives him a lot of self-confidence because he was given the opportunity,” says Steiner, looking back on Antonelli’s debut victory in Shanghai. But: “Under normal circumstances, it’s very difficult to beat George at the moment.”
“And I think he is aware of that, not because he is a better driver – George has much more experience,” the South Tyrolean reminds us that Russell is already in his eighth Formula 1 season, while Antonelli has only just started his second year.
“He is much younger and also very fast,” Steiner emphasizes, praising the fact that Antonelli seized his chance when Russell was struggling with technical problems in China qualifying. “He didn’t make a mistake. He sees that and thinks: ‘Actually, I can do this’, and that will help him in the future.”
