Following his World Championship triumph, Kimi Antonelli acknowledges that George Russell had more bad luck in 2026 and expects him to be a strong rival in 2027
Following his title win in Mexico, Kimi Antonelli has conceded that, in his view, his Mercedes team-mate George Russell had more bad luck than he did during the 2026 Formula 1 season. The new world champion points to several technical setbacks and emphasises that, despite a difficult year, Russell was always capable of fighting back.
When asked how much the doubts about his readiness for Formula 1 from the previous year had motivated him further, and how he assessed Russell’s season, Antonelli had words of praise for his team-mate. “As for George: he definitely had a bit of bad luck over the course of the season. I think he actually had a bit more of it than I did, to be honest.”
However, his own season had not been entirely without setbacks either. Antonelli recalled the races at Barcelona and Silverstone in particular. After Silverstone, Mercedes also had to retire a new power unit because it had a problem. As a result, a penalty that had actually been planned for a later date was brought forward, which Antonelli ultimately had to serve at Monza.
Russell suffered several technical setbacks
Russell also had to cope with setbacks in 2026. Technical failures in Canada and Malaysia cost the Briton crucial opportunities. Antonelli therefore acknowledges that his team-mate’s season was not without its share of misfortune – and sees this as a reason not to judge Russell’s performance solely on the basis of the result.
Despite winning the title, Antonelli by no means believes that the internal rivalry is over. “He’ll definitely be back. He’s incredibly fast and has shown this season that he’s very, very hard to beat when he’s on form.”
For the Italian, this means not resting on his laurels following his World Championship success. Instead, he must continue to work on his game and steadily improve his performance. “For me, it’s simply a matter of continuing to focus on myself, raising the bar ever higher, and continuing to improve and develop.”
Antonelli expects a close title race in 2027
The newly crowned world champion has long since looked beyond the internal team rivalry. Russell won’t be the only rival he’ll have to contend with. Antonelli expects several teams to be fighting for the top spot next season.
“I don’t think it’ll just be about George at the end of the season. Next year too, Red Bull – particularly with Max – Ferrari and, ultimately, McLaren will all be right up there at the front.”
That is why it will be crucial to drive consistently at the highest level. “It’s going to be a close battle. That’s why it will be important to be on top form – not just against my team-mate, but against everyone else as well.”