Kimi Antonelli is showing "zero sign" of feeling the pressure of his Formula 1 title fight, according to former driver and F1 TV pundit Jolyon Palmer. The Mercedes driver extended his championship lead to 81 points after winning the Spanish Grand Prix, his eighth victory of the season.
Speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, Palmer said Antonelli is not racing like someone fighting for a championship. "Zero sign. Absolutely zero sign," he said. "Even when you look at the way he's fighting with Lando at the start of the Spanish Grand Prix, he's still bombing it over those chicanes, trying to win the race, not trying to settle in."
Antonelli's consistency has been striking. His eight wins on the European leg have put him comfortably ahead of teammate George Russell, who sits second, with Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton a further 20 points back in third. Mercedes' dominance in the first half of the season is clear.
The turnaround from 12 months ago is stark. Last year, during the same European stretch, Antonelli scored just three points and suffered four retirements. Now, he is on the cusp of a title. "It's kind of poetic, isn't it? The European summer last year left him on the cusp of potentially losing his seat. And fast forward 12 months and the European summer has pretty much left him on the cusp of being a champion," Palmer said.
Palmer also highlighted Antonelli's confidence. "He's driving with such confidence. He's just showcasing his amazing talent now. And the consistency of it once again is what continues to impress," he added.
With his form improving, Antonelli is becoming increasingly difficult to catch. If he maintains this momentum, a first world title for the young Italian seems only a matter of time.
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