{"id":1879634,"date":"2026-04-13T09:40:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T06:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1879634"},"modified":"2026-04-13T09:40:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T06:40:00","slug":"kimi-antonelli-f1-title-battle-a-warzone-for-george-russell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1879634","title":{"rendered":"Kimi Antonelli F1 title battle \u201ca warzone\u201d for George Russell"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404160_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9&#8243;]<\/p>\n<article>\n<header id=\"lbs-article\" class=\"article header article-header section layout layout--article-header\">\n<div class=\"col headline\">\n<div>\n<h1>Kimi Antonelli F1 title battle \u201ca warzone\u201d for George Russell<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"summary body\">\n<p>David Coulthard has offered advice to George Russell after losing ground to Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"section two-column\">\n<div class=\"col article-info\">\n<div>\n<address> Sam Hall <\/address>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><time datetime=\"2026-04-13T10:40:00+01:00\">13 Apr 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col article-actions\">\n<div class=\"block block-better-social-sharing-buttons block-social-sharing-buttons-block\">\n<div class=\"social-sharing-buttons\"><span class=\"ssb-title\"> Share<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div id=\"lbs-content\" class=\"content wide-two-column-sticky section layout layout--wide-two-column-sticky\">\n<div class=\"col first-column\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<figure> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404160_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404160_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404160_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404160_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404160_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404160_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404160_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404160_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404160_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><figcaption>\n<div>George Russell, Mercedes F1, 2026 Japanese GP<\/div>\n<div class=\"source\"> \u00a9\u00a0XPB Images<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block block-preferred-source\">\n<div class=\"preferred-source-cta\">  Add as a preferred source <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p>David Coulthard has warned George Russell it is time to ditch his \u201cMr Nice Guy\u201d persona in the Formula 1 world title \u201cwarzone\u201d with Kimi Antonelli.<\/p>\n<p>Russell faces the best opportunity of his F1 career to win the world championship, with Mercedes having the dominant car across the opening three rounds of the season.<\/p>\n<p>But through poor luck and being outperformed by Antonelli, he has won just one grand prix compared to the Italian\u2019s two, and finds himself nine points behind in the standings.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf I was George Russell, this is a warzone. No more Mr Nice Guy,\u201d said Coulthard on the <em>Up to Speed<\/em> podcast.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe said it after Kimi got his first victory. And actually, there was a really good interview I saw with George and Toto online, where they were sort of debriefing in real time, and I thought it was great that Mercedes shared that on their socials.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cIt gives us an insight that Toto is there in one moment trying to pick up George, and on the other side, he\u2019ll go into the other room with Kimi and say \u2018You did it, I believed in you, who\u2019s your daddy?\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Russell must \u201cget his elbows out\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Russell and Antonelli have yet to go toe to toe in battle this season, much like the McLaren pair of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the early phases of 2025. But it is unlikely that this pattern will hold for too long.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-5edb54ec868c196565e763823fdbdf76e4812d0a56b3ad74d40b6c97c9996b46\">  Martin Brundle sends George Russell warning amid Mercedes F1 title fight   The biggest winners and losers from F1\u2019s surprise five-week break <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>When the time to engage in combat arrives, Coulthard urged Russell not to hold back.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think George is realising that this is his opportunity, and any advantage they\u2019ve had in these opening races, will slowly be eroded as their customer teams understand how to use their engines, as Kimi continues to grow in confidence,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou don\u2019t want a really confident team-mate. You want a team-mate that is slightly thinking, \u2018I\u2019m not sure I can beat him in qualifying\u2019. Trust me, I know, because I had team-mates where I would sit there looking at the lap time in qualifying thinking, \u2018I\u2019ve got one more set of tyres. I don\u2019t think I can go any faster\u2019.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-f4cd885a4b1d307ab1e3a288aac11313f6ad9a776ed05e43dce1731d16bd7d1f\">  F1 championship leader hints at \u201cmajor changes\u201d coming for Ferrari   Toto Wolff told what he can\u2019t do as Mercedes F1 title tension predicted <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cSo George has to start eroding that confidence within Kimi, and he\u2019s having to do that while the fa\u00e7ade of the team \u2013 we\u2019re Mercedes, we all love each other.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut it will all come to a head, and as far as I\u2019m concerned for George, he has to get his shoulders behind that and get his elbows out sooner than later, because Kimi is growing in confidence right now.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block block-echobox\">\n<h2>Subscribe to our F1 Newsletter<\/h2>\n<div class=\"info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-info\" id=\"edit-info--2\">\n<p>Get the latest F1 news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"extra-info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-legal\" id=\"edit-legal--2\">\n<p>For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h2>In this article<\/h2>\n<div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">F1<\/div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">Mercedes<\/div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">George Russell<\/div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">Andrea Kimi Antonelli<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block block-next-prev\">\n<div class=\"next-prev-pager contextual-region\">\n<div class=\"items\">\n<div class=\"item prev\">\n<h3>  Previous<\/h3>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\"> Michael Schumacher legend reborn in new film<\/div>\n<source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1034596_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1034596_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1034596_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1034596_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1034596_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1034596_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1034596_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1034596_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1034596_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-author-block block block-configurable-views-block\">\n<div class=\"author-view grid-view js-view-dom-id-9d515a90917826dad9cea5a38a7c3bb0ef06aee6c02ef94b594ae7f863d6d7be\">\n<div class=\"card user default\">\n<div class=\"image\"> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/pictures\/whatsapp-image-2026-03-05-at-12.30.04.jpeg?height=270&amp;format=webp 270w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/pictures\/whatsapp-image-2026-03-05-at-12.30.04.jpeg?height=180&amp;format=webp 180w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/pictures\/whatsapp-image-2026-03-05-at-12.30.04.jpeg?height=90&amp;format=webp 90w\" sizes=\"100px\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"header\">\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"name\">Sam Hall<\/div>\n<div class=\"role\">F1 Writer<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"desc\">\n<p>Sam joined Crash.net in February 2026 with extensive experience in motorsport media, having covered numerous championships around the world.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"views-element-container block block-views-blockrelated-content-related-content-block\">\n<h3>More News<\/h3>\n<div class=\"grid-view grid-2 js-view-dom-id-51511ff3e0fe16c41be071797e95335684cc73df4d0186cb9ff18c56000a22e4\">\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Kimi Antonelli \u201cnot worrying\u201d about championship after taking F1 title lead, but should he?<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1775303520\"> 04\/04\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/xpb_1402413_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Antonelli became the first Italian since Fisichella in 2006 to win a Grand Prix\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Toto Wolff hails &#8216;unpredictable&#8217; Kimi Antonelli F1 win rate<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1775223360\"> 03\/04\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/xpb_1404498_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, 2026 Japanese GP\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Mercedes chief thought Kimi Antonelli was a \u2018lost child\u2019 when they first met<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1775134570\"> 02\/04\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/m586713_f1_chinese_grand_prix_2026.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Antonelli kisses the winners' trophy on the Shanghai podium\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Why George Russell isn&#8217;t worried about early F1 title battle momentum shift<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1775132100\"> 02\/04\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404160_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"George Russell, Mercedes F1, 2026 Japanese GP\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Why Mercedes is wary of F1 rivals despite unbeaten start to 2026<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1775035927\"> 01\/04\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404742_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Mercedes had a fight to win the Japanese Grand Prix\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Leclerc identifies what Ferrari need to do to catch Mercedes<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1774960863\"> 31\/03\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/xpb_1404671_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Leclerc says Ferrari's &quot;main weakness&quot; is its power unit \" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col second-column\">\n<div class=\"sticky\">\n<div class=\"block block-echobox\">\n<h2>Subscribe to our F1 Newsletter<\/h2>\n<div class=\"info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-info\" id=\"edit-info\">\n<p>Get the latest F1 news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"extra-info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-legal\" id=\"edit-legal\">\n<p>For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"summary body\">\n<p>David Coulthard has offered advice to George Russell after losing ground to Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p>David Coulthard has warned George Russell it is time to ditch his \u201cMr Nice Guy\u201d persona in the Formula 1 world title \u201cwarzone\u201d with Kimi Antonelli.<\/p>\n<p>Russell faces the best opportunity of his F1 career to win the world championship, with Mercedes having the dominant car across the opening three rounds of the season.<\/p>\n<p>But through poor luck and being outperformed by Antonelli, he has won just one grand prix compared to the Italian\u2019s two, and finds himself nine points behind in the standings.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf I was George Russell, this is a warzone. No more Mr Nice Guy,\u201d said Coulthard on the <em>Up to Speed<\/em> podcast.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe said it after Kimi got his first victory. And actually, there was a really good interview I saw with George and Toto online, where they were sort of debriefing in real time, and I thought it was great that Mercedes shared that on their socials.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cIt gives us an insight that Toto is there in one moment trying to pick up George, and on the other side, he\u2019ll go into the other room with Kimi and say \u2018You did it, I believed in you, who\u2019s your daddy?\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Russell must \u201cget his elbows out\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Russell and Antonelli have yet to go toe to toe in battle this season, much like the McLaren pair of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the early phases of 2025. But it is unlikely that this pattern will hold for too long.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-5edb54ec868c196565e763823fdbdf76e4812d0a56b3ad74d40b6c97c9996b46\">  Martin Brundle sends George Russell warning amid Mercedes F1 title fight   The biggest winners and losers from F1\u2019s surprise five-week break <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>When the time to engage in combat arrives, Coulthard urged Russell not to hold back.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think George is realising that this is his opportunity, and any advantage they\u2019ve had in these opening races, will slowly be eroded as their customer teams understand how to use their engines, as Kimi continues to grow in confidence,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou don\u2019t want a really confident team-mate. You want a team-mate that is slightly thinking, \u2018I\u2019m not sure I can beat him in qualifying\u2019. Trust me, I know, because I had team-mates where I would sit there looking at the lap time in qualifying thinking, \u2018I\u2019ve got one more set of tyres. I don\u2019t think I can go any faster\u2019.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-f4cd885a4b1d307ab1e3a288aac11313f6ad9a776ed05e43dce1731d16bd7d1f\">  F1 championship leader hints at \u201cmajor changes\u201d coming for Ferrari   Toto Wolff told what he can\u2019t do as Mercedes F1 title tension predicted <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cSo George has to start eroding that confidence within Kimi, and he\u2019s having to do that while the fa\u00e7ade of the team \u2013 we\u2019re Mercedes, we all love each other.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut it will all come to a head, and as far as I\u2019m concerned for George, he has to get his shoulders behind that and get his elbows out sooner than later, because Kimi is growing in confidence right now.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block block-echobox\">\n<h2>Subscribe to our F1 Newsletter<\/h2>\n<div class=\"info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-info\" id=\"edit-info--2\">\n<p>Get the latest F1 news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"extra-info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-legal\" id=\"edit-legal--2\">\n<p>For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p>David Coulthard has warned George Russell it is time to ditch his \u201cMr Nice Guy\u201d persona in the Formula 1 world title \u201cwarzone\u201d with Kimi Antonelli.<\/p>\n<p>Russell faces the best opportunity of his F1 career to win the world championship, with Mercedes having the dominant car across the opening three rounds of the season.<\/p>\n<p>But through poor luck and being outperformed by Antonelli, he has won just one grand prix compared to the Italian\u2019s two, and finds himself nine points behind in the standings.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf I was George Russell, this is a warzone. No more Mr Nice Guy,\u201d said Coulthard on the <em>Up to Speed<\/em> podcast.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe said it after Kimi got his first victory. And actually, there was a really good interview I saw with George and Toto online, where they were sort of debriefing in real time, and I thought it was great that Mercedes shared that on their socials.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cIt gives us an insight that Toto is there in one moment trying to pick up George, and on the other side, he\u2019ll go into the other room with Kimi and say \u2018You did it, I believed in you, who\u2019s your daddy?\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Russell must \u201cget his elbows out\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Russell and Antonelli have yet to go toe to toe in battle this season, much like the McLaren pair of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the early phases of 2025. But it is unlikely that this pattern will hold for too long.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-5edb54ec868c196565e763823fdbdf76e4812d0a56b3ad74d40b6c97c9996b46\">  Martin Brundle sends George Russell warning amid Mercedes F1 title fight   The biggest winners and losers from F1\u2019s surprise five-week break <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>When the time to engage in combat arrives, Coulthard urged Russell not to hold back.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think George is realising that this is his opportunity, and any advantage they\u2019ve had in these opening races, will slowly be eroded as their customer teams understand how to use their engines, as Kimi continues to grow in confidence,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou don\u2019t want a really confident team-mate. You want a team-mate that is slightly thinking, \u2018I\u2019m not sure I can beat him in qualifying\u2019. Trust me, I know, because I had team-mates where I would sit there looking at the lap time in qualifying thinking, \u2018I\u2019ve got one more set of tyres. I don\u2019t think I can go any faster\u2019.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-f4cd885a4b1d307ab1e3a288aac11313f6ad9a776ed05e43dce1731d16bd7d1f\">  F1 championship leader hints at \u201cmajor changes\u201d coming for Ferrari   Toto Wolff told what he can\u2019t do as Mercedes F1 title tension predicted <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cSo George has to start eroding that confidence within Kimi, and he\u2019s having to do that while the fa\u00e7ade of the team \u2013 we\u2019re Mercedes, we all love each other.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut it will all come to a head, and as far as I\u2019m concerned for George, he has to get his shoulders behind that and get his elbows out sooner than later, because Kimi is growing in confidence right now.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block block-echobox\">\n<h2>Subscribe to our F1 Newsletter<\/h2>\n<div class=\"info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-info\" id=\"edit-info--2\">\n<p>Get the latest F1 news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"extra-info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-legal\" id=\"edit-legal--2\">\n<p>For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;http:\/\/crash.net\/f1\/news\/1092970\/1\/kimi-antonelli-f1-title-battle-warzone-george-russell&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404160_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9&#8243;] Kimi Antonelli F1 title battle \u201ca warzone\u201d for George Russell David Coulthard has offered advice to George Russell after losing ground to Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli. Sam Hall 13 Apr 2026 Share George Russell, Mercedes F1, 2026 Japanese GP \u00a9\u00a0XPB Images Add as a preferred source David Coulthard has warned George Russell [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[47,226],"class_list":["post-1879634","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crash-net","tag-crawlmanager"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1879634","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1879634"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1879634\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1879634"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1879634"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1879634"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}