Kimi Antonelli laughs off Russell’s title remark: “How can you lose something you don’t have?”
Andrea Kimi Antonelli arrived in Monte Carlo looking relaxed and completely at ease, even while acknowledging that Ferrari is likely to be the benchmark team on the streets of the Principality. Speaking ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, the young Mercedes driver also addressed George Russell’s recent comments about the championship battle, suggesting that some of the psychological games often seen in title fights may have already begun.
“After lunch I was ready to take a nap, then they told me there was a media session,” Kimi joked.
The comment perfectly reflected the attitude Antonelli has carried throughout the season. Far from appearing weighed down by the expectations that come with leading the championship, the 19-year-old continues to display a level of calm more commonly associated with experienced Formula 1 veterans. His relaxed body language, measured responses, and composure throughout a lengthy media session once again highlighted a maturity beyond his years.
“It’s always great to be here in Monaco,” Kimi said. “I’m expecting an interesting weekend. Ferrari will be strong, I’m sure of that. For me, they are the favourites this weekend. We’ve also brought a new rear wing and a new front wing, so we’ll see how things go. It’s the first real street circuit of the season and you need to get up to speed immediately. The important thing is to start with the right rhythm and build the weekend session by session, improving the feeling with both the car and the track, while adapting your driving style as grip levels increase.”
According to Antonelli, Ferrari’s status as favourite extends beyond the strengths already shown by the SF-26 during the opening races of the season.
“Their car is very strong under braking. The wing positioned behind the exhaust may cost them something in terms of power, but it provides more downforce in medium- and low-speed corners. I also think the characteristics of their car suit the bumps and imperfections of this circuit very well. And there’s another factor: if you look at recent years, Ferrari has always been competitive here, even in seasons when they struggled elsewhere.”
The Canadian Grand Prix weekend revealed a more aggressive side of Antonelli than had been seen earlier in the season, something that did not go unnoticed either within Mercedes or among rival teams.
“You saw a version of Kimi that was… a bit more angry,” he smiled. “It was a weekend where I learned a lot about myself, especially when it comes to managing emotions inside the car. In the Sprint Race I should have stayed calmer after the contact. I was more aggressive than usual and that’s something I’ve worked on a lot. You need to find the right balance. You need a little bit of everything, but without going too far.”
Antonelli arrives in Monaco holding a very comfortable position in the championship standings. His 43-point advantage over George Russell has naturally increased the pressure on his teammate, and Kimi believes some psychological tactics are already emerging.
After the Canadian Grand Prix, Russell had remarked that “Kimi is the only one who can lose the championship.” Antonelli’s response came with a smile.
“I read it and it made me laugh. I think it’s far too early to talk about the championship, it doesn’t really make much sense. And besides… how do you lose something that you don’t even have yet? I’d say I actually have very little to lose. Every time I go on track I try to do the best job possible and win, but I know there will be weekends where I’ll have to settle for less. At the end of the day, I have nothing to lose. I just want to enjoy myself and achieve the best result possible with what I have available. George tried to put some pressure on me, but don’t worry, it didn’t affect me at all.”
For the first time this season, Mercedes heads into a race weekend without being considered the clear favourite, and Antonelli is fully aware of that reality. However, there is one technical aspect that makes Monaco particularly unique from a driver’s perspective.
“We’ll be able to start a lap without thinking about the battery! It will be nice to focus solely on going as fast as possible without worrying about anything else. Monaco is a track where energy management isn’t as critical as it is elsewhere, so I’m expecting it to be really enjoyable.”
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