Antonelli ahead of everyone
The start of the season that Mercedes is experiencing is quite positive, with four victories won by the Brackley team in the first four races. After the win in the opening GP in Melbourne by Russell, in Shanghai Andrea Kimi Antonelli experienced the joy of his first F1 victory, then repeated it in Japan and Miami. Three poles and three consecutive wins that pushed the young Bolognese driver to the top of the world championship standings, with a 20-point lead over his teammate.
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Watch out for Verstappen
Overall performances that, according to former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, have demonstrated his superiority at Mercedes for the potential conquest of the world title. However, from now on, the road will not be easy at all for Antonelli, always according to the judgment of the 95-year-old Briton. Will a possible return of Russell hinder the 19-year-old Bolognese in the next races? No. The most serious threat, in fact, would be Max Verstappen.
Waiting for the Canadian GP, the Red Bull Dutchman is 74 points behind, has not yet achieved a podium, and has not hidden all his disappointment for the results obtained so far. But what struck Ecclestone was the last GP in Miami: besides a better qualifying performance compared to previous weekends, with the gap from the poleman reduced to one tenth, the spin at the start of the Miami race compromised a potential podium for the four-time world champion, who with an early pit stop managed to get 5th place after 50 laps on hard tires.
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Crisis overcome
In an interview with the Swiss newspaper Blick, Ecclestone ‘invited’ Antonelli to pay attention to Verstappen’s comeback: “Antonelli or Verstappen will be the world champions – he said – Red Bull has obviously overcome the crisis period. Max has regained his best form, and he is dangerous”.
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