Montoya: Mercedes Must Keep Antonelli Away from Wheel-to-Wheel Fights

Juan Pablo Montoya has warned Mercedes to keep Andrea Kimi Antonelli out of unnecessary wheel-to-wheel battles. According to the former Colombian driver, if provoked, Antonelli might take excessive risks just to prove he is the number one.

Montoya admitted that Antonelli's performance has been the biggest surprise of the first half of the season. While Mercedes itself was no surprise, the championship leader has impressed with six wins in eleven races. Without the technical issue at Silverstone, that tally could have been seven.

With a 50-point lead over Lewis Hamilton, Antonelli is targeting his first world title in his second F1 season. However, Montoya sees one potential danger: a young and aggressive mindset could backfire if not managed properly.

Read AlsoVerstappen Doesn't Want 'Superstar' Status in Endurance Racing

“If they manage to stop Kimi from behaving young and aggressive, and not get carried away by the heat of the race when fighting with rivals, I think he will become world champion,” Montoya told Betpack. “If rivals challenge him and he has the chance to overtake, he might end up crashing and doing things just to show everyone he is number one.”

So far, Antonelli has avoided major incidents while battling. His hottest duel came against George Russell in Canada, both in the Sprint and the main race. However, Russell's technical failure handed Antonelli an easy victory.

This analysis underscores the pressure on Mercedes to protect their biggest asset. Managing race strategy wisely, avoiding unnecessary fights, and keeping Antonelli focused will be key to maintaining the championship lead until the end of the season.