George Russell believes that Kimi Antonelli is now the big favorite for the 2026 world title after his incredible winning streak.
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The internal hierarchy at Mercedes already seems to be taking shape very clearly. Barely five rounds contested this season, and Kimi Antonelli establishes himself as the driver to beat, to the point that his teammate George Russell himself acknowledges that the championship could already belong to him.
The young 19-year-old Italian continues to impress the paddock with exceptional consistency. After the Canadian Grand Prix, he secured a fourth consecutive victory in the main race, a historic feat that places him in a category of his own for such an inexperienced driver.
This winning streak allows him to build a significant gap in the standings, with a 43-point lead over Russell, who is nevertheless considered a very solid and experienced driver at Mercedes.
Russell falling behind despite a solid weekend
On his side, George Russell had a convincing weekend in Montreal. Pole sitter in both the sprint and the main race, he had also won the sprint race before dominating much of the Grand Prix.
But a technical failure on his power unit ended his hopes in the race, forcing him to retire after about thirty laps, letting valuable points slip away in the internal battle.
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After the race, Russell publicly admitted that the situation was turning in favor of his teammate. According to him, Antonelli now has a sufficient lead to be considered “the main favorite for the title”, even though the 2026 F1 season is still long.
This statement was quickly picked up and widely discussed in the paddock, but also among fans, who seem to mostly share this analysis.
A revealing poll among fans
A survey conducted among the public shows a clear trend: nearly 56% of voters believe that Antonelli is now in an ideal position to clinch the championship. Only a minority still believes in Russell, while a third of fans still consider the situation too early to draw definitive conclusions.
With a season still far from over and many points at stake, the Mercedes duel remains open on paper. But in reality, the current momentum already puts new pressure on Antonelli: that of confirming a status as a future world champion.
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