Antonelli stays grounded: ‘A title isn’t won until it’s truly won’

Andrea Kimi Antonelli arrives in Azerbaijan with an 81‑point advantage over teammate George Russell, yet the Mercedes driver continues to reject any notion that the Formula 1 title is already secured. Fresh off a fortunate win in Madrid, the 20‑year‑old maintained his trademark caution during media day in Baku, stressing that championships are decided only at the finish line. Drawing a parallel with his friend Jannik Sinner, Antonelli said he prefers to tackle the season “one point at a time,” focusing solely on maximizing each race. He admitted that the standings inevitably cross his mind, but insisted he cannot let the numbers influence his driving.

Rivals remain close, he warned, highlighting McLaren’s pace with Lando Norris, Max Verstappen’s consistency and Ferrari’s expected speed. Antonelli believes sustained concentration and steady results are essential, concluding that only at year’s end will he know where this remarkable campaign leads.