“I believe in Kimi’s world championship.” With these words, Manuel Codignoni, Rai Radio 1 commentator and guest on Pit Talk, summarised a potentially historic moment in the 2026 Formula 1 season. Three consecutive victories, three consecutive pole positions, and a George Russell increasingly struggling on a psychological level: Kimi Antonelli is no longer learning—he is already leading Mercedes.
Three consecutive wins. Three consecutive poles. And above all, a growing feeling that Kimi Antonelli is no longer just gaining experience—he is already in control of the Mercedes team.
This is the strongest message emerging from Codignoni’s analysis on Pit Talk. According to the Rai Radio 1 commentator, the Miami Grand Prix was not just another victory, but the race that shifted the internal balance within the team.
“The Miami race was the crucial one.”
And that is where everything started to truly change.
Antonelli is not just winning: he is getting inside Russell’s head
The core of Codignoni’s analysis is not about Kimi Antonelli’s talent—something that is already clear to everyone.
Instead, it is about what is happening on the other side of the garage.
Because only a few months ago George Russell was:
- the driver who beat Lewis Hamilton
- Mercedes’ designated leader
- the man chosen to guide the new era
And yet today he finds himself alongside a 19-year-old who:
- beats him in qualifying
- beats him in races
- and, above all, appears to drive with striking calmness
Codignoni describes it almost as an inevitable psychological process:
“You go completely crazy, you start pushing harder, and when you push harder you make mistakes.”
And this is where the situation becomes dangerous for Russell.
The world championship is no longer science fiction
The strongest line from the interview comes almost naturally:
“I believe in Kimi’s world championship.”
And said today, it no longer sounds like a provocation.
Because Antonelli is not winning random races or benefiting from others’ mistakes. He is showing:
- raw speed
- clarity under pressure
- mental control
- adaptability
All qualities normally seen after years in Formula 1—not at 19 years of age.
The detail that truly stands out
According to Codignoni, the most striking element is another one: Miami came after a five-week break.
In theory, Russell should have:
- analysed data
- studied Antonelli
- understood where to recover time
Instead, the opposite happened.
“In this race he took the biggest beating compared to the others.”
And this is where suspicion grows that Mercedes’ internal hierarchy is shifting much faster than expected.
Mercedes now has a major problem
Because when a driver performs at this level at such a young age, two things happen:
- it energises the team
- it destabilises the teammate
And in Formula 1, the second factor is extremely important.
Russell now risks finding himself in a situation similar to what Lewis Hamilton experienced in the final Mercedes years:
- defending his status
- against a faster driver
- and, above all, a more mentally relaxed one
With one major difference: Antonelli already appears even colder under pressure.
The “killer bunny smile”
There is a phrase from Codignoni that captures the situation better than any data:
“He looks at you with that killer bunny smile…”
Because Antonelli is winning without showing tension.
And that is perhaps the most destructive factor for a teammate.
He does not look under pressure. He does not look emotional. He does not even look surprised.
He looks convinced that he already belongs at this level.
Has Russell already switched into defence mode?
The feeling is that the real turning point of Mercedes’ season is not technical—it is psychological.
Because if Russell:
- loses confidence
- starts overdriving
- falls into a mistake cycle
Then the championship could truly become a clear run for Antonelli.
And the remarkable part is that we are talking about a driver who, just a few months ago, many still wanted in Formula 2.
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