George Russell insists he “has an answer” to Kimi Antonelli’s pace but admits he will need good luck to catch his Mercedes team-mate at the top of the drivers’ championship.
Russell suffered a demoralizing blow to his already dim title hopes at last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix when he was pipped for victory by Antonelli, despite the 20-year-old starting 19th on the grid after receiving a penalty for exceeding the engine clearance.
The result left Russell, who had started second at Monza, 66 points behind Antonelli with 10 rounds remaining, starting with this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid.
Russell started the season as the clear favorite for the title but has won just two grands prix compared to Antonelli’s seven, with the Italian consistently quicker, particularly in terms of race pace.
Asked about finding himself in a situation where he doesn’t have an answer to Antonelli’s speed, Russell replied: “I have an answer and I’m working on it, and it’s gotten a lot better.
“I’m very happy with the kind of step I’ve taken because a radical change in driving style is achievable for many drivers, but actually being fast with it is another matter.”
After hitting a low point before F1’s summer break, Russell produced good weekends in Holland and Italy but was still unable to beat Antonelli on Sunday.
“I feel like my performance since the summer break has been… I’ve qualified ahead of him in three qualifying sessions and my race pace has been on par with him in those two races. And I can’t say that pre-break. I’m obviously very happy with that progress.
“We will have to see where the rest of the season takes us.”
Russell ‘trying not to be delusional’
Russell has repeatedly insisted his focus is on improving his performances rather than catching Antonelli, but ahead of F1’s return to Madrid he admitted it will be down to luck if he is to win his first driver’s title this year.
In addition to his deficit, Russell will also have to take a penalty for getting new engine parts between now and the end of the season, which will see him start a race from the back of the field.
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Antonelli and Russell go wheel-to-wheel for the Italian Grand Prix lead in some epic team-mate battles
Regarding his prospects of winning the title, Russell said: “I’m not trying to be delusional. The reality is that my teammate has done a better job than me this year.
“I’ve had bad luck, but he deserves to be a leader and now he deserves to be in the position he is.
“For my part, I will just go race by race. I will try to win as much as possible.
“If I want to win this championship, I’m going to need some luck and here we are. I’m kind of very realistic about the position we’re in.”
Antonelli: I want to avoid thinking about the championship
Antonelli’s victory on a weekend where his rivals were expected to make ground on him has further cemented his status as the overwhelming favorite to wrap up the championship.
Behind Russell, Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton is 76 points behind Antonelli, while McLaren’s Lando Norris is fourth on 96 points.
Despite the strength of his position, Antonelli claims it is “still too early” to think about the championship.
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Antonelli: The championship is not won until you ‘cross the finish line’
He said: “I don’t even know how many races are left. Ten? So there’s still a lot to do. It’s still early.
“And I don’t want to drive thinking about the championship. Monza was proof that I wasn’t driving thinking or worrying about the championship.
“I was just driving to win; to do my best and that’s the mindset.
“Of course, in the future there may be times when before I make a certain decision, I can think about the championship.
“But the thing I want to avoid is going to the track for a free practice or a qualifying – or even a race – thinking or worrying about the championship. That’s the thing I want to avoid at all costs.”
Sky Sports F1 Spanish GP live schedule
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Sky Sports Anthony Davidson talks you through the new Madrid F1 circuit
Friday September 11th
8.50 am: Exercises F3
10.00am: Exercises F2
12:00: First practice of the Spanish Grand Prix (session starts at 12:30)
12.55: Qualifying F2
14:40: Press conference of the team bosses
15:45: Second Practice of the Spanish Grand Prix (session starts at 16:00)
17:20: Qualifier F3
18:20: F1 show
Saturday, September 12
10am: F3 Sprint
11:00: Third Practice of the Spanish Grand Prix (session starts at 11.30)
13:10: F2 Sprint
14:15: Qualifying preparation of the Spanish Grand Prix
15:00: QUALIFICATION OF THE SPANISH GRAND PRIX*
16:55: F3 Feature Race 1
18:00: Ted’s qualifying notebook
Sunday, September 13
8.40am: F3 Feature Race 2
10.20: F2 feature race
12:30 p.m.: Grand Prix Sunday: Preparation for the Spanish GP
14:00: Spanish Grand Prix
16:00: Checkered flag: Spanish GP reaction
17:00: Ted’s notebook
*also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 is in Madrid for the Spanish Grand Prix at the new Madring circuit with Sunday’s race at 2.30pm (build-up from 12.30pm), live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
