Mercedes staff do not see George Russell as 2026 title favourite as Kimi Antonelli making difference

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Mercedes do not think George Russell is more likely to win the 2026 F1 drivers’ title than Andrea Kimi Antonelli after noticing where the Italian can make the difference.

Russell was widely regarded as the favourite to win the championship this year ahead of the 2026 F1 season, as many touted Mercedes to rise to the top under the new regulations. The Briton is also now in his eighth season in the field and his fifth driving for the Silver Arrows.

Even McLaren star and 2025 drivers’ champion Lando Norris named Russell as the 2026 title favourite ahead of the season. Russell was expected to take advantage of Mercedes’ engine and build on proving himself as their team leader during Antonelli’s rookie season last term.

Yet Antonelli tops the F1 drivers’ standings after three rounds with a nine-point margin over Russell in second. While Russell started the season by winning the Australian GP and the F1 Sprint in China from pole, Antonelli then won the Grands Prix in China and Japan from pole.

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Kimi Antonelli can make a difference over George Russell on Pirelli’s hardest 2026 tyres

Antonelli converted his maiden pole to score his debut Grand Prix win in China with a nearly faultless performance at the Shanghai International Circuit. The 19-year-old gained from the safety car interruption to win at Suzuka, despite dropping five places at the start of the race.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Mercedes F1 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli

According to Formula Technica, Antonelli’s recent results also showed that he can ‘make the difference’ compared to Russell on the harder Pirelli tyre compounds. Pirelli moved from the softest compounds (C3 to C5) in Australia to the C2 to C4 in China and C1 to C3 in Japan.

Antonelli proved in China and Japan that he can deliver the precise and anticipatory style on the harder tyre compounds to maximise their performance without pushing their operating windows. Russell, however, struggled with how the W17 was less predictable with less grip.

Mercedes always had a ‘lot of faith’ in Antonelli, and their staff in Brackley now believe the Bologna boy has just as much of a chance of winning the 2026 F1 title as Russell. The Silver Arrows are not backing either driver, but they ‘certainly’ do not feel Russell is the favourite.

It now remains to be seen how Antonelli handles the pressure of leading the championship when the season resumes in Miami on May 1-3 after the April break, as well as how Russell responds to slipping behind his teenage teammate partly because of the safety car in Japan.

Antonelli is “confident” that he can win the 2026 drivers’ title, but he has also said he is “not worrying” about the championship after just three of the now 22 rounds this season. Russell may also see the Miami GP as his chance to respond as Pirelli will likely offer its softest tyres.