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Formula 1 commentator Alex Jacques has claimed that everyone is ignoring the fact that Kimi Antonelli was already beating George Russell at the end of the 2025 season.
Antonelli has enjoyed a flying start to the 2026 F1 season, winning in China and Japan after finishing second in Australia.
Currently, the young Italian leads the world championship with Mercedes teammate Russell trailing by nine points.
Despite leading the race to become F1 world champion, ex-Mercedes star Nico Rosberg has labelled Antonelli as the ‘ultimate underdog’.
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Alex Jacques says Kimi Antonelli was already beating George Russell at the end of 2025
Speaking recently on the F1 YouTube channel, commentator Jacques revealed that everyone has been ignoring the fact that Antonelli was already getting the better of Russell at the back end of 2025.
Jacques said: “George is the favourite, he remains the favourite, he’s got a lot of experience, he’s got a lot of know-how, and he’s a little bit unlucky.
“I think everyone was ignoring how good Kimi was at the end of last year, his drive in Vegas was ridiculously good, had a couple of McLaren disqualifications but his race pace was very very good.
“He outraced George Russell in Brazil, held off Max Verstappen to the line, overall final five races he beats him three times. Key in there for me is George Russell has won in Vegas, he’s won in Brazil and George still has up and down tracks.”
Do you think Kimi Antonelli has the complete support of Italian F1 fans as he goes up against Ferrari this season?
Riccardo Patrese's crash at the 1983 San Marino GP was celebrated by Ferrari fans as Patrick Tambay went on to win.
He continued: “But at the end of last year, Kimi Antonelli was beating George Russell at circuits where George has won. Alright, end of the year, he’s not a championship contender, will it continue? It has continued.
“I think Antonelli was potentially at a higher level at the end of last year than anyone gave him credit for. I think it has been a wake-up call for George Russell. I think it could yet benefit George’s season that Kimi has won early.”
READ MORE: Johnny Herbert tells Kimi Antonelli he must be ‘very selfish’ in title fight with George Russell
Kimi Antonelli reminds Alex Jacques of Oscar Piastri
Jacques went on to claim that the early battles between Antonelli and Russell reminded him of last year’s tussle between McLaren pair Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
Jacques added: “It is very reminiscent of what we saw Oscar do to Lando at the start of last year.”
At the start of the 2025 campaign, Norris was the heavy favourite, with McLaren clearly having the fastest car.
The Brit won in Australia but then had to wait until Monaco to score another victory, with Piastri winning four races in between.
In the end, though, Norris was the one who had the upper hand as he claimed his maiden world title by finishing two points ahead of Max Verstappen, with Piastri dropping down to third.
Antonelli will be hoping the same fate does not happen to him as he looks to make it a hat-trick of wins at next week’s Miami Grand Prix
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