World championship frontrunner Kimi Antonelli has pledged to "re‑establish the order" over his Mercedes teammate George Russell at the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix, after being out‑performed in Azerbaijan. Antonelli had enjoyed a streak of five consecutive Grand Prix finishes ahead of Russell, but in Baku he could only manage fifth place while the British driver delivered his strongest weekend of the season, taking pole and converting it into a race victory. That result narrowed Antonelli's lead to 66 points with eight races still to run.
Although Antonelli salvaged a modest points haul, his performance in Baku highlighted several areas where he can improve before the second leg of the triple‑header, which will be relocated to the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia due to the ongoing unrest in the Middle East. When asked whether Russell had become his sole championship rival after Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton fell more than 100 points behind, Antonelli replied, "He's always been my rival. But I'll make sure next week I re‑establish the order and just make sure that I will be at back at my usual level because this weekend I was driving more like my grandma, so it wasn't the usual Kimi." The 20‑year‑old Italian described his Baku weekend as chaotic. He lost a large portion of practice time because of a technical glitch, then crashed during the first part of qualifying, which forced him to start the race from 16th on the grid.
"In FP1 I did three laps and then missed half of FP2," Antonelli explained. "In FP3 I was finding my rhythm. In Q1 my one‑lap time was decent, but I made a mistake and ended up in the bad part of the track.
During the race I didn't have the confidence and I was only driving at about 80 per cent. Realistically I wasn't mentally ready to push 100 per cent because I lacked the confidence I had in previous weekends, but it will be much better in Sepang." Russell, who entered the season as the clear pre‑season favourite after winning the Australian opener, had been stunned by Antonelli’s early dominance – the Italian claimed his first five career victories in successive races.
Up to Baku, Antonelli had seemed to hold a race‑pace edge over Russell on almost every circuit, keeping the championship firmly in his control. However, the Bahrain race flipped the script: Russell was quicker than Antonelli at every stage – practice, qualifying and the race itself – reaffirming his status as a serious title contender. Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord downplayed the psychological impact of Russell’s performance on Antonelli.
Speaking to the media in Baku in the absence of team boss Toto Wolff, Lord said, "I don’t really think it makes a difference. The drivers set their own high standards and they want to meet them. One of the great assets of this team is that we have two drivers capable of fighting at the very front, putting the car on pole, delivering flawless race wins. Kimi put it behind him and did a great job in the race.
George did an incredible job out front, and it’ll be exciting to see them going at it in Malaysia." Looking ahead, the championship will move to Malaysia for the first time since 2017, with the Sepang International Circuit hosting the rescheduled Bahrain Grand Prix. The change of venue offers Antonelli a fresh opportunity to reset his mindset and demonstrate the speed that has defined his early season.
Sepang’s hot, humid conditions and long straights demand a balanced setup that maximises straight‑line speed while preserving tyre life through its sweeping corners. Antonelli believes the circuit will suit his driving style, stating, "The track is fast but also technical, and I think I can get the car into a rhythm that I missed in Baku." The Italian also highlighted the importance of mental preparation. After a weekend where he felt he was "driving like my grandma," he intends to focus on confidence‑building exercises, working closely with his race engineers to fine‑tune the car’s handling characteristics. "Confidence is everything in F1," he noted.
"When you trust the car and trust yourself, you can push to the limit. I’m going to work on that in the paddock and on the simulator before Sepang." Russell, meanwhile, remains motivated to extend his early‑season momentum. His victory in Baku was built on a flawless start from pole, flawless tyre management, and a strategic pit stop that kept him ahead of the pack. He praised his team for delivering a car that performed consistently across the weekend and expressed confidence that the team can continue to challenge Antonelli for the championship lead.
Both drivers will head into the Malaysian round with a clear narrative: Antonelli aims to re‑assert his dominance and close the confidence gap, while Russell will look to cement his status as the primary challenger. The upcoming race promises a compelling duel, with the added intrigue of a new circuit that could shuffle the performance order.
Fans can catch the action live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via NOW – no contract required and cancel anytime. The Malaysian Grand Prix will be the first of the season’s rescheduled Bahrain events, marking a pivotal moment in the title fight as the two Mercedes drivers prepare to battle it out on the demanding Sepang layout.