MONTMELO, Spain (AP) 鈥� This was supposed to be 鈥檚 chance to shoot for the title.
Coming into the season as Mercedes鈥檚 presumptive lead driver, with his team producing the best car after a rulebook overhaul, Russell looked perfectly positioned to compete for the world championship after winning the year鈥檚 in Australia.
That was when his second-year teammate Kimi Antonelli and took the Formula 1 circuit by storm.
Antonelli has made F1 history on several counts this season. At age 19, he became the youngest pole-sitter en route to his first win in China, followed by becoming F1鈥檚 youngest points leader after a win in Japan.
The bushy-haired Italian just kept going, sweeping the alliterative triple of Miami, Montreal and to make it five in a row and tie the longest winning streak ever managed by F1 victory leader Lewis Hamilton.
He will now try to make it six of six at the newly renamed Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix 鈥� the race formerly known as the Spanish GP 鈥� on Sunday.
And while he’s perfectly aware that he is now the driver to beat, Antonelli is trying not to let it get to him.
鈥淎bout the championship, I am not really worrying about it,” he said on Thursday at the Montmelo track. “I know the opportunity that is on the table and I want to make the most out of it, but at the same time I don鈥檛 want to drive a race thinking about about it.
“I want to enjoy the weekend as much as possible and drive as fast as possible and we will see at the end of the season where we are.鈥�
Russell needs to make up for lost ground
While F1 discovered its new star driver, Russell found himself floundering for the first time with Mercedes, where he had managed to better Hamilton before the British driver left for Ferrari two years ago. That huge move opened the door for Antonelli to join the Silver Arrows.
The 28-year-old Russell, who is liked for his schoolboy charm and chatter on team radio that has included gems such as 鈥淵abba Dabba Doo鈥� and 鈥済et the kettle on,鈥� now faces his most difficult moment since joining Mercedes four years ago.
Last season, Russell outperformed Antonelli, scoring two victories and earning 319 points, the fourth-most points of the grid, while his new partner was seventh with 150 points and no victories.
Now, Antonelli鈥檚 winning run has him leading the championship with 156 points after six races. Hamilton, who is enjoying a , is next with 90. Russell is third with 88.
鈥淭he pressure feels off, to be honest. I鈥檓 just going to try and enjoy every race, not even thinking about a championship,鈥� Russell said on Thursday. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so far out of reach right now that it鈥檚 just go and enjoy the races and have fun, drive fast and do what I know I鈥檓 capable of doing and what I鈥檝e done for my whole career in Formula 1.鈥�
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff praised Antonelli鈥檚 innate talent and his ability to learn from his rocky rookie season with the German carmaker. But he balanced that by saying that Russell鈥檚 disappointing results have been largely due to issues that are out of his control, like a that knocked him out of the points.
鈥淗ow (Antonelli) came out of the block this year was very exciting, but bear in mind George has had some bad luck too,鈥� Wolff said. 鈥淭here is nobody I would rather have on the team than the two we have.鈥�
Could Barcelona, an old-school, permanent, high-speed track that drivers know well from their years of racing and testing here, give Russell the chance he needs?
He topped the first practice session for the race on Friday, when the field featured seven reserve drivers, including Frederik Vesti, who stepped in for Antonelli.
Russell has never been on the podium here in seven tries with Mercedes and Williams, even if he has come close with three fourth-place finishes, including the past two years. That is partly because he has never had a top-three finish in qualifying either, so a strong Saturday will be key.
Another triumph by Antonelli would have him match Russell鈥檚 career victory haul of six races won.
Russell said he has come to the conclusion that he needs to stop overthinking, obsessing about data, and get back to 鈥渄riving by instinct.鈥�
鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to chase the dream, I want it to come toward me. And it will come towards me if I take it race by race,鈥� he said.
Barcelona to take a break next year
From 1991 until last year, the race at the circuit located half an hour by car from Barcelona (on a normal day without F1 fan traffic) was called the Spanish Grand Prix.
Now it is called the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, while the Spanish GP name has been given to the new race to be held for the first time in September.
The future of the Barcelona race was in doubt until F1 announced a deal struck in February to continue holding it, but every other year while it alternates with the Belgium GP. The Barcelona race will be held in 2028, 2030 and 2032.
Tens of thousands of Spanish fans are expected to turn out to see Fernando Alonso in what he said would likely be .
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