George Russell thinks he’s the ‘chosen one’ at Mercedes despite Kimi Antonelli win streak

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George Russell sees himself as the ‘chosen one’ at Mercedes after his long stint at the team, according to journalist Leo Turrini.

2022 signing Russell will soon become just the fourth driver to reach 100 starts for Mercedes after Lewis Hamilton (246), Nico Rosberg (136) and Valtteri Bottas (101).

During his first four seasons, Russell has had a car occasionally good enough to win races but largely a podium contender at best. He finally has a shot at the world championship in 2026 after Mercedes, long tipped to nail the new regulations, surged to the top of the pecking order.

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Kimi Antonelli knew that George Russell was underestimating him

In a Deep Red column exploring the increasing tension at Mercedes, Turrini pointed out that the Silver Arrows are ‘English in spirit’ despite the brand’s German heritage. They are based in Brackley, and many of their key staff are from the UK.

This has fed into Russell’s sense of being the ‘chosen one’, as if he’s destined to lead Mercedes back to the top.

Antonelli knows that Russell only regarded him as an ‘apprentice’ at the start of the year, rather than a genuine threat.

Does the Canadian Grand Prix get a 10/10?

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As he revealed before the season started (via Sky Sports), Russell only saw Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc as his biggest rivals.

As Antonelli has gained momentum – his win streak now stands at four races – Russell has stressed that he always viewed the Italian as a tough opponent.

But after outscoring a rookie Antonelli 319-150 last year, it would have been easy to underestimate him. Russell was widely seen as the heavy favourite to win the title.

The two drivers contested their first major battles of the season in Canada last weekend, with a furious Antonelli suggesting Russell had pushed him onto the grass at turn one.

They made contact during a prolonged tussle in the Grand Prix, but neither car sustained damage. Russell’s retirement on lap 30 ended the epic battle early and gave Antonelli a 42-point lead at the top of the standings.