‘Out of reach’: George Russell refuses to think about F1 title after Antonelli surge

• British driver says pressure is off following bad run

• Antonelli 68 points ahead of Mercedes teammate

George Russell insists the pressure is off in the battle for the Formula One drivers’ championship.

A ­succession of mishaps – combined with the https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jun/08/kimi-antonellis-monaco-triumph-rattles-f1-rivals-toto-wolff-mercedes-lewis-hamilton">exemplary form of his Mercedes teammate, Kimi Antonelli – has left him 68 points off the pace.

Sunday’s round seven is the newly styled Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, with the Spanish Grand Prix shifting to a new venue in Madrid in September.

Mercedes are expected to excel again this weekend, but it is the 19-year-old Antonelli who has established a firm grip on the drivers’ championship after https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jun/07/kimi-antonelli-becomes-youngest-winner-of-f1-monaco-gp-after-late-drama">five consecutive victories.