Brundle: Russell Must Take Antonelli Seriously, Like Peak Hamilton

According to Sky Sports F1's Martin Brundle, George Russell needs to view his Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli as a significant threat, akin to Lewis Hamilton in his prime, given the intense title battle unfolding between them. Despite Mercedes' dominant start to the season, with three consecutive wins, Antonelli surprisingly holds a nine-point lead over Russell. The 19-year-old Italian has been fortunate, with a well-timed safety car at the Japanese Grand Prix aiding his leapfrog over Russell to secure a second successive victory, following Russell's win in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. Initially, Russell was the clear title favorite, but the early results suggest a more competitive battle between the two Silver Arrows drivers than anticipated. Having spent three years with Williams before joining Mercedes in 2022, Russell was paired with Lewis Hamilton for three seasons until Hamilton's move to Ferrari in 2025. Brundle expressed that Russell should be more concerned after three races than at the beginning of the season, emphasizing the need for Russell to treat Antonelli with the utmost seriousness, akin to facing Hamilton at his peak. Brundle noted, 'If I was George, I'd be more concerned after three races than I was at the beginning of the season... He's got to treat Kimi Antonelli just as if he's Lewis Hamilton in his peak and a threat for the championship.' Antonelli overcame a significant crash during the opening weekend, showcasing his resilience by quickly bouncing back. Brundle praised Antonelli's ability to recover from setbacks and his impressive pace, although he believes Russell's experience will ultimately give him an edge over the course of the season. The Miami Grand Prix, the season's second Sprint weekend, is set to take place on May 1-3, live on Sky Sports F1.