Andrea Kimi Antonelli may insist that he is not paying attention to the championship standings, but the numbers tell a remarkable story. The Italian currently enjoys a 68-point advantage over his Mercedes teammate George Russell in the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship.
While fortune has certainly not always been on George Russell’s side this season, the British driver has also openly admitted that he has struggled at times to extract the maximum performance from the Mercedes W17. Speaking in the Barcelona paddock, Andrea Kimi Antonelli offered further insight into the differences between the two drivers and explained why the latest generation of Formula 1 cars appears to suit his driving style more naturally.
Different driving styles and setup preferences
It was George Russell who first highlighted the differences between the two Mercedes drivers. Following qualifying in Monaco, the British driver suggested that Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s driving technique also has a positive impact on tyre management.
“The difference is in the way we drive, and that also affects the tyres. He is able to bring them into a better operating window than I can,” George Russell explained.
Now Andrea Kimi Antonelli has expanded on that topic during a meeting with the Italian media in Barcelona: “We have two different driving styles and we use the car in different ways. We also need the car to respond in a certain way to suit our driving styles. Even in terms of setup choices, we are not always the same because, with my driving style, I need certain things from the car and George needs others.”
The comments provide a fascinating insight into how two drivers competing in the same team can require significantly different characteristics from the same car in order to maximize performance.
Even small variations in balance, stability and corner-entry behaviour can influence how comfortable a driver feels behind the wheel and ultimately affect lap time.
Why the balance has shifted since last year
Ironically, the situation was very different in 2025. At that time, George Russell’s driving style appeared to be more effective with the previous generation of ground-effect cars, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli found it much more difficult to adapt.
The championship leader acknowledged that the contrast between their performances is not entirely new: “That is definitely the main difference at the moment, but it was also there last year, when I struggled with my driving style in that car, especially because of porpoising, while he felt very comfortable. Now I’m the one who feels comfortable with this car.”
Despite George Russell’s current difficulties, Andrea Kimi Antonelli made it clear that he still considers his teammate one of the strongest drivers on the grid: “He is going through a difficult period, but I’m sure he will be back at the top because, despite everything, he is still very fast. He will definitely be up there fighting at the front.”
The comments underline the respect that exists between the two Mercedes drivers despite their championship battle and differing experiences with the current car.
What changed from last season?
Back in September of last year, Andrea Kimi Antonelli had already explained the key characteristic of his preferred driving style.
“I ask more from the car, especially on corner entry, and therefore I need a rear end that remains quite stable.”
Given that explanation, the turnaround in 2026 might initially seem surprising. The current Formula 1 cars are equipped with narrower tyres and less effective aerodynamic packages, making them noticeably more nervous and unstable at the rear.
On paper, those characteristics should have made life more difficult for Andrea Kimi Antonelli rather than easier.
However, the Italian driver offered an interesting explanation for why the new cars actually suit him better: “They are more unstable, but they give you much more warning, even when the car starts to slide. Last year’s car was very abrupt. It had incredible grip, but when it let go, you simply couldn’t recover it.”
Andrea Kimi Antonelli then described how the current generation of cars provides drivers with more feedback and allows them to better understand where the limit lies.
“This year, you can feel when the car is starting to go, and you can control it better. You can also play with the car more. Last season, even from the outside, you could see how planted those cars were. They looked like trains running on rails, whereas now they move around more and are more agile. For me, it’s easier to feel the limit of the car.”
Those remarks help explain why Andrea Kimi Antonelli has adapted so effectively to the 2026 regulations. While the current cars may be less stable overall, the additional feedback they provide appears to suit his natural instincts behind the wheel.
With five consecutive victories and a commanding lead in the championship standings, that understanding of the Mercedes W17 is proving to be one of the key factors behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s remarkable rise to the top of Formula 1 this season.
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