Kimi Antonelli arrives in Madrid for the Spanish Grand Prix arguably in the strongest position he has enjoyed all season. The Mercedes driver leads the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship by 66 points over nearest rival George Russell and is fresh from an unforgettable victory at Monza, yet he insists he still does not want to think about the title.
The Italian also rejected the idea that his championship advantage has made him Mercedes’ number one driver. Despite the growing gap in the Formula 1 Drivers’ standings, Antonelli says he and George Russell continue to receive the same opportunities and remain on equal terms inside the team.
Kimi Antonelli moved by Ferrari fans celebrating his Monza victory
Antonelli’s triumph at the Italian Grand Prix carried particular emotional significance. Starting from 19th on the grid, he fought his way through the field to become the first Italian driver to win the home Grand Prix in 60 years, with even large sections of Ferrari’s traditionally devoted support eventually celebrating his success.
Speaking to journalists in Madrid during his customary pre-weekend press conference, the Mercedes championship leader admitted that the reaction from the Monza crowd had exceeded his expectations.
“For me it was fantastic to see so many Ferrari fans celebrating and shouting my name while I was on the podium and also during the race,” Kimi Antonelli said. “I think the fans made the difference because, over the final 10 or 15 laps, every time I came out of the first chicane, I could see the grandstand on the right and notice everyone standing up as I went past.”
For a driver competing against Ferrari on home soil, winning over part of the red-clad Monza crowd added another dimension to what was already a historic result.
Antonelli refuses to focus on 2026 F1 title despite 66-point lead
Despite the momentum created by the victory and his substantial championship advantage, Antonelli remains uncomfortable with discussions about potentially becoming Formula 1 world champion.
“I don’t even know how many races are left, probably around 10, so there is still a long way to go,” the Mercedes driver explained. “I think it is still early and I don’t want to start thinking about the championship; Monza showed that I wasn’t worrying about the standings, I was just trying to win and give my maximum.”
That approach was particularly evident at Monza, where Antonelli continued attacking despite the championship implications of racing directly against George Russell. His victory increased the gap to his team-mate to 66 points, while George Russell has since acknowledged the scale of the challenge he now faces.
Antonelli accepts that there may eventually be moments when championship calculations have to influence an individual decision, but he does not want those considerations to change the way he approaches an entire race weekend.
“That’s my approach: of course, in the future there could be situations where, before making a decision, I will think about the championship. But what I want to avoid at all costs is going out on track – whether it’s free practice, qualifying or the race itself – thinking or worrying about the championship.”
Kimi Antonelli says Mercedes has no number one driver
The increasingly important battle between Antonelli and George Russell has also raised questions about whether Mercedes could eventually establish a hierarchy between its two drivers.
Antonelli does not believe that point has been reached. Although he now holds a commanding championship advantage, the Italian insists Mercedes continues to treat both sides of the garage equally.
“I think at Mercedes there isn’t really a ‘number one driver’, because they want to give both of us the same opportunities,” Kimi Antonelli said. “George is an incredible driver and he has been in great form over the last two races, so it certainly doesn’t feel to me as though there is a ‘number one driver’.”
“The team treats us in the same way and gives us the same chances. I don’t feel like the undisputed leader; I feel more that we are both on the same level. That’s how it should be, that’s the right way.”
The comments maintain Mercedes’ current position of allowing its drivers to contest the championship on equal terms. The situation has already produced difficult strategic decisions during the season, including at Zandvoort, where the team’s handling of the two cars became a major talking point after the Dutch Grand Prix strategy involving Antonelli and Russell.
Madrid becomes Antonelli’s next challenge
For now, Antonelli’s message is that the 66-point advantage changes little about his immediate approach. Rather than protecting his position or beginning to calculate what he needs from the remaining rounds, the championship leader wants to continue treating each session and each Grand Prix as an opportunity to maximise performance.
That philosophy now carries him into Madrid and the new Madring circuit, where every driver faces an unfamiliar challenge. Monza may have strengthened Antonelli’s grip on the championship and turned even Ferrari supporters into temporary fans of the Mercedes driver, but he insists the title itself is not yet occupying his thoughts.
With George Russell remaining his closest rival and Mercedes refusing to establish a formal number one, the fight is still being conducted on equal terms. Antonelli simply intends to keep approaching it the same way he did at Monza: by concentrating on winning rather than counting points.
