George Russell made it clear that Kimi Antonelli's current advantage in the 2026 Formula 1 drivers' standings "is not even a consideration" for him at this point in the season. The 19‑year‑old Italian prodigy sits nine points ahead of the seasoned Mercedes driver and is aiming for a third consecutive race victory as the championship heads to Miami for a weekend that includes a Sprint race.
Antonelli, who at 19 has become the youngest driver ever to top the F1 leaderboard, is only in his second year in the sport. Yet, despite his rapid rise, neither he nor his teammate have mounted a genuine title challenge so far.
When asked whether Antonelli's position had altered the atmosphere within the Mercedes camp, Russell responded with a metaphor drawn from the London Marathon. "After three miles you’re not thinking about the finish line; you still have 23 miles left," he said.
"We’re only in race four of a long season, so his lead is essentially irrelevant at the moment. Of course, he’s done an outstanding job, but the championship is a marathon, not a sprint." He added that his own performance this year has been the best it can be given the car’s current condition, noting that his junior career was filled with seasons where he did not win every race. "You have weekends when the car breaks down, when you get involved in an incident, or simply have bad luck," Russell explained.
"That was the case for many of the title contenders last year as well. If I have a tough weekend and finish second in China or fourth in Japan, I’ll be happy because those are still solid results. The goal is to have smooth weekends, because when the car is performing well, a win is always within reach." The five‑week hiatus since the last Grand Prix has given every team a chance to introduce upgrades for Miami, though the scale of those improvements varies. Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull have unveiled substantial new components, while Mercedes has opted to spread its development work over the next two rounds – first in Miami and then in Canada.
"We were a little surprised to see some teams bring upgrades to Miami that were probably intended for Bahrain or Saudi Arabia," Russell said. "We expected most of the major updates to arrive in Montreal, and we have a slightly bigger package planned for Canada, given there are still two weeks between the two events. We hope the competition hasn’t closed the gap too much by then." Antonelli, who returns to the same circuit where he claimed his maiden F1 pole in the Sprint Qualifying a year earlier, anticipates a tougher battle against Mercedes' rivals this weekend.
"It’s going to be a very interesting weekend for us," he admitted. "We’re not bringing any major upgrades, just a few small tweaks, while teams like Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull are introducing big changes. They’ll definitely be closer, and we’ll have to fight harder." He continued, "We’ll keep our heads down, focus on extracting the maximum performance from the car, and do whatever we can. The result will speak for itself after the race." The official schedule for the Miami weekend is packed with action.
On Friday, May 1, the day starts with an F2 practice session at 2.35 pm, followed by the Miami GP practice at 4.30 pm, then F2 qualifying at 7.25 pm, the team bosses’ press conference at 8.10 pm, and finally the Sprint Qualifying session beginning at 9.30 pm. Saturday, May 2, features the F2 Sprint at 2.55 pm, the build‑up to the Miami Sprint at 4 pm, the Sprint race itself at 5 pm, and a series of post‑race analysis shows, including Ted’s Sprint Notebook at 6.30 pm. Qualifying for the main Grand Prix starts at 8 pm, with the session itself at 9 pm, followed by Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 11 pm.
Sunday, May 3, rounds out the weekend with the F2 Feature Race at 5.25 pm, a build‑up to the Grand Prix at 7 pm, the Miami Grand Prix start at 9 pm, a reaction show after the chequered flag at 11 pm, and Ted’s final notebook at midnight. All of these events are also broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event. As the 2026 season resumes in Miami, fans can watch the Sprint weekend live on Sky Sports F1, with the main Grand Prix slated for 9 pm on Sunday. The race can be streamed via NOW without a long‑term contract, offering the flexibility to cancel at any time.
While Antonelli’s early lead adds an intriguing storyline, Russell’s seasoned perspective reminds everyone that a championship is decided over many races, not a single weekend. Both drivers are focused on delivering their best performance, adapting to the evolving technical landscape, and navigating the inevitable ups and downs that come with competing at the pinnacle of motorsport.