George Russell has arrived in Miami confident he can beat his Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli to claim the Formula One world championship, despite not having won two of the last three races.
The British driver is nine points behind the Italian who was victorious in China and Japan before the five-week break in the calendar caused by war in the Middle East.
Russell, who was victorious in the opening round in Melbourne, suffered some misfortune in losing out to 19-year-old Antonelli in both subsequent races. The Englishman, though, remains favourite for the season’s honours.
Speaking ahead of what is forecast to be a wet race in Miami on Sunday – conditions which would be a first under the new regulations – Russell said: ‘It doesn’t matter who’s ahead right now. As long as I’m ahead at the end of the season. People don’t look back at 2007 and think Kimi (Raikkonen) didn’t lead the championship all year. They just remember he was champion.
‘It was the same as last year. Oscar (Piastri) was leading for much of the season, but Lando (Norris) came through and won it in the end and that’s all that matters.’
Asked when a deficit would become a big deal, Russell said: ‘By the summer break (in August).
George Russell has arrived in Miami confident he can beat his Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli
‘I feel I’ve been a bit unlucky the last two races – qualifying in China, Ollie Bearman’s crash in Japan. Things could quite easily have been different. But Kimi’s done a good job as well.
‘We’ve had time to look at our race starts and they’ve been going well on the sim. It feels as if a new season is starting.’
Antonelli, speaking in the Floridian sunshine at the Hard Rock Stadium, said the ‘break felt very long, so it is good to be back’.
He added: ‘There will be a lot of pressure in the case of the title opportunity coming. We are in a good position. But I have a team-mate who is up there.
‘He is always delivering, and Ferrari are close. McLaren are much better. Red Bull will definitely get closer and I shall try to concentrate from race to race and focus on the process.
‘Bono (Peter Bonnington, Lewis Hamilton’s former race engineer who is now working with Antonelli) is trying to guide me. He has a lot of experience, keeps me grounded and guides me. We can do great things together.’
