George Russell insists he remains unflustered about team-mate’s Kimi Antonelli’s performances after the Italian clinched a third successive victory at the Miami Grand Prix.
The 19-year-old backed up his maiden F1 win in China with success in Japan and a five-week break did not break his momentum as he overcame reigning champion Lando Norris at the Hard Rock Stadium.
Russell ended up fourth after gaining two places late on but he was off the pace of Antonelli all weekend at a track he admits he does not enjoy, meaning he will head to Montreal in three weeks’ time 20 points adrift of his Mercedes team-mate.
“Clearly Kimi’s in a really great place at the moment and momentum is with him, Russell, who won the season-opener in Australia, said.
“But I’ve got enough experience myself in championships I’ve won on how momentum swings throughout a year and also looking at the championship last year.
“To be honest, I’m not even considering it (the gap). I just want to get back onto the top step of the podium.
“The first three races, I had the performance to do that. This weekend, I actually did not have the performance to do that, so I could be standing here now with three very different results from the previous races and then this just being a bit of a one-off.”
The race was moved forward by three hours to 1300 local time due to the threat of thunderstorms and only light rain fell during the 57-lap contest.
Pole-sitter Antonelli had endured a poor start in every race this season and again lost the lead off the line.
Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen surged through before the Dutchman suffered a spin and dropped to ninth.
Norris joined the battle and the pair reeled in Leclerc before the McLaren man took the lead.
He kept that until the pit stops when Antonelli stopped a lap earlier and was able to get the jump on Norris, keeping that lead until the end to become the first Italian to win three races in a row since Alberto Ascari in 1952.
“This is just the beginning. The road is still long. We are working super hard and the team is doing an incredible job,” Antonelli said.
“Without them, I wouldn’t be here, so thanks to them and my family. I’m going to enjoy this one then get back to work.
“I did not expect (to lead at this stage). We are in such a good moment but it is a long season and there are so many things that can change. George will be super strong in Canada.”
Verstappen qualified on the front row for the first time this season but his 360-degree spin at turn two cost him dearly, although a one-stop strategy enabled him to come home fifth.
While speaking to the written media, Verstappen saw his spin on the screen, saying: “Nice 360! I tried to minimise the time lost by doing a 360. I floored it and managed to do a good 360 so if F1 doesn’t work out I can always go rallying.”
Oscar Piastri passed Leclerc in the closing laps to take third before the Ferrari driver spun and damaged his car, allowing Verstappen and Russell to come through as he dropped to sixth.
Leclerc was later hit with a 20-second penalty for “leaving the track without justifiable reason”, which dropped him to eighth.
