Antonelli Believes Russell Has ‘Momentum’ After Baku Win As He Expects ‘Tough Challenge’ At Bahrain Grand Prix

Kimi Antonelli has highlighted that George Russell carries significant momentum following his victory in Azerbaijan, with the Italian driver anticipating a demanding battle ahead at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.

Mercedes experienced contrasting fortunes in Baku, where Antonelli started from 16th on the grid after a Q1 crash, while Russell secured pole position with a standout lap.

Although Antonelli mounted a recovery drive on Sunday to finish fifth, Russell managed to hold off a charging Max Verstappen to claim his first win since the Austrian Grand Prix in June. In doing so, the Briton reduced his team mate’s lead at the top of the Drivers' Standings to 66 points.

Reflecting on his Baku weekend, Antonelli acknowledged the difficulty of the event while focusing on the constructive lessons learned from the ordeal.

"Last weekend was probably my toughest outing of the entire season," Antonelli explained during media obligations in Malaysia. "Even so, it offered valuable insights. Baku turned out to be a very unusual race for me because I consciously opted not to take risks and drove well within the limits, which felt strange but necessary.

"It was exactly what I needed on Sunday—a clean finish following a heavily disrupted weekend. I wasn't entirely satisfied with the end result, but I took away plenty of experience.

"The key takeaway is that I must remain operating at 100 per cent at all times and push relentlessly for the best outcome. If I don't execute everything within my power correctly, fortune won't favor me."

When asked whether he expects a more intense title battle with Russell moving forward—and if he feels prepared for the pressure—Antonelli responded:

"Without a doubt. He put together an exceptional weekend in Baku and holds the momentum right now, whereas on my side, it was easily my weakest performance of the year.

"However, I learned a great deal from it, and I'm genuinely excited heading into this weekend. It represents a prime opportunity to score heavy points. The mindset always remains focused on victory, but George has been executing brilliantly—especially last time out. It’s going to be a tough challenge, but I'm looking forward to it."

Mercedes will introduce a major technical upgrade package for the W17 in Sepang, complemented by a bespoke livery. The 20-year-old expressed his enthusiasm for taking on the Malaysian venue:

"I'm really looking forward to it," Antonelli remarked. "I just completed the track walk, and the layout looks incredible. The surface is open-grained and abrasive, which will be tough on tyre wear, but otherwise, I can't wait to get out there.

"We have updates arriving this weekend. As you build experience in F1, you appreciate development packages much more because you instantly recognize subtle changes in vehicle behavior. The upgraded car looks fantastic, and hopefully it delivers extra pace."

Elaborating on his expectations for the new components and areas he aims to refine in his driving, Antonelli added:

"The upgrade package is designed to yield higher grip levels and downforce. On that front, we hope to see an immediate boost in cornering performance.

"We’ll evaluate how the balance shifts once we run the new specification. Regarding areas for personal improvement… it's a bit of everything, to be fair. There are multiple aspects of my driving I can refine.

"This circuit will serve as an ideal benchmark for me, given its long, sweeping corners where maintaining minimum corner speed is crucial. That is likely an area I need to work on, but I'm ready. My simulator runs felt promising, but the true test comes on the actual track."