A New Force at Mercedes

According to former W Series competitor and Sky Sports F1 analyst Naomi Schiff, Kimi Antonelli has officially shed his status as the "little brother" within the Mercedes garage. The Brackley-based team has dominated the 2026 season, securing victory in every Grand Prix held thus far, with the 19-year-old talent responsible for four of those five triumphs.


Antonelli made history by becoming the youngest championship leader following consecutive victories in China and Japan. His momentum continued in Miami and Canada, where he set a new benchmark by winning his first four consecutive races.


The Turning Point in Montreal

Leading up to the Canadian Grand Prix, significant attention was focused on George Russell. Having performed well at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in the past, many observers expected the British driver to halt Antonelli’s streak. While Russell claimed the sprint race win and secured pole position, a late battery failure derailed his race during a fierce wheel-to-wheel contest with his teammate.


Reflecting on the competitive dynamic between the two, Schiff noted during the Up To Speed podcast that the Montreal weekend marked a decisive change in their relationship:


«Honestly, that moment I think was really where the gloves came off. And I'm almost happy that it happened because on one hand, Kimi is really showing that he's not just going to be bullied or made to feel like the little brother. He was like, 'I'm here. I'm going to race you, and I'm going to race you hard.'»

Expectations for the Remainder of the Season

Despite the intensifying rivalry, Schiff maintains high praise for Russell’s defensive capabilities:


«George, whilst he's a great driver and he's full of confidence as well, he's so difficult to overtake. That's one thing I will give George so much credit for is he is incredible in his defensive driving in the sense that he never loses time while doing it. It doesn't compromise him too much, but I think it's going to be such an exciting season ahead watching these two go head-to-head.»