George Russell remains confident in his world championship ambitions despite taking a serious blow with a mechanical failure at the last round in Canada. In Monaco the British driver insisted that he felt no pressure, with the Formula One title his rival and teammate Kimi Antonelli’s to lose.
Russell encountered a battery failure while leading in Montreal after taking pole position and having enjoyed a hard-fought contest for the race lead that ebbed and flowed with his teammate. With Antonelli going on to win he extended his lead in the world championship to 43 points. The 19-year-old Italian has now won four races in a row to establish a strong advantage, although 17 rounds remain including the meeting in Monaco this weekend.
The British driver, having taken time to reset and regroup since Montreal, maintained that he was unaffected by the setback in Canada, which was beyond his control. “In the past I’ve never really sort of believed in: ‘This is going to determine my destiny.’ I’m pleased that I did the job that I knew I was capable of and delivered in every moment when it was required,” he said.
“Of course it was annoying, but I didn’t lose much sleep over it and I think I can continue doing that job for the 17 races to go.
“I don’t think I’ve got anything to lose, really. I feel I’m still going with that same mindset, that if I look at it from my competitor’s [Antonelli’s] position, you’re kind of in a position now that you’ve got such a buffer, it feels like you can only keep it or you can only lose it. I think it’s his to lose.”
Russell had been the pre-season favourite but after Antonelli won the opening round in Australia he has been surpassed by the Italian, who is in only his second season in F1. Russell has endured something of a run of bad luck: alongside the failure in Canada he had two technical problems in qualifying in China that were costly as Antonelli took pole and the win. In Japan he was unlucky in the timing of a safety car that benefited the Italian.
However the 28-year-old was calm and assured in Monaco, insisting he would not change his approach as he attempts to chase down Antonelli. “My mindset is enjoy every single race, try and win every single race, the same as I’ve done this whole season,” he said.
“I’m going to fight the same. I’m not going to change my mentality at all, nor am I going to let this put any more pressure on to me. I don’t feel like I need to get every single result possible because I think the season’s long enough that over the course it will swing if you’re the guy who’s on top. So I just need to continue being the guy who’s coming out on top.”
During their at times fierce contest in Canada, Antonelli repeatedly expressed his frustration with Russell’s driving to the team, at one point locking up while attempting a pass that almost resulted in the pair hitting one another. However Russell said their relationship remained friendly.
“He is a young and feisty driver, and he wears his heart on his sleeve. When I was a bit younger I was very much the same, you feel the need to express everything over the radio.
“We have had good conversations since. I use the football analogy, two guys going for a tackle and it doesn’t matter who is at fault or not, you are both going to think the other guy has done something wrong. So far everything is fine and I enjoy the battle.”
