Emerson Fittipaldi: World Championship duel between the Mercedes stars is far from over

The figures paint a clear picture: this year, Kimi Antonelli has claimed all of his Grand Prix victories to date, five of them in a row. The teenager from Bologna has only failed to make the podium twice – and through no fault of his own: in both Spain and Great Britain, technical issues meant he finished outside the points.

His Mercedes team-mate George Russell, by contrast, has secured just two Grand Prix victories so far. He finished outside the top three in six of the eleven Grand Prix held to date; like Antonelli, he too has been hampered by technical issues on more than one occasion. In the World Championship standings, he sits in third place behind the leader from his own ranks and his former team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who has rediscovered his former form at Ferrari. 59 points separate Russell from leader Antonelli.

George Russell under pressure

Nevertheless, Grand Prix legend Emerson Fittipaldi is certain that fans can look forward to a close World Championship battle between the two star drivers. Speaking in the ‘Legends Round’ on ‘Formula1.com’, he said: “It’s good for the sport to have a newcomer on board. He’s only 19 and can win the world title. He’s putting George Russell under enormous pressure, and George has in turn shown that he’s strong. If George takes this pressure in his stride, as he has often proven before, I think it will be very exciting for the fans. The rest of the World Championship is going to be a neck-and-neck race.”

The two-time world champion has many kind words for team principal Antonelli and his family: “Kimi is doing a fantastic job and proving his potential. I’ve known him since his karting days many, many years ago. I know Marco, his father, very well, and I know the family well. Marco even coached my son Emmo in Formula 4. They’re a wonderful Italian family from Bologna – lovely people, real racing enthusiasts.”

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