Naomi Schiff, Sky Sports F1 analyst, believes Kimi Antonelli should no longer be viewed as a teenage sensation. For her, the Mercedes driver has proven himself as a genuine Formula 1 title contender.
Speaking on the Up To Speed podcast with Will Buxton and David Coulthard ahead of the Dutch GP, Schiff assessed Antonelli's impressive performances in the first half of his second season. The Italian currently leads the drivers' standings with a 50-point advantage over Lewis Hamilton in second.
Mercedes' decision to promote Antonelli at a young age to replace Hamilton, who moved to Ferrari, was seen as a gamble. However, Schiff believes Antonelli's consistency makes his charge at the top no longer surprising.
"There's something in his body language. He doesn't seem to carry the same baggage or weight as some drivers around him," Schiff said. "That comes with his age, the fact he's only in his second season, and he's not in a position like George (Russell) where it's like, 'OK, buddy, we really need you to start delivering victories to justify your position.'"
"Kimi is in the early stages of his career. They took a big bet on him, and it's paying off. But we also need to stop looking at him like this young kid, 'Wow, how is he doing this?' He's doing it. He's been doing it, and he's proving it. I'd be less surprised if he keeps up this form," Schiff added.
Schiff is more concerned about George Russell's inability to compete at the front. "I'd be more surprised if George couldn't turn his situation around. He came into the season with high hopes, and it hasn't worked out. Lewis is sandwiched in the middle, and we're not excluding him, but the thing that would surprise me most is if George doesn't turn this around," she concluded.
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