Danner believes Russell will regain the advantage over Antonelli.
"We witnessed a similar situation last year with Piastri."
Christian Danner believes that George Russell will ultimately surpass championship leader Kimi Antonelli as the 2026 season progresses. The 19-year-old Italian has made a significant impact in Formula 1, achieving consecutive victories and currently leading the standings after three races, stirring discussions in Italy about the possibility of an incredibly rare Italian world champion. However, former F1 driver Danner, in an interview with motorsport-magazin.com, is skeptical about the longevity of this momentum.
"Certainly, Antonelli possesses talent, and he utilizes it effectively, though he struggles with getting off to a strong start," he remarked. "He also embodies a particular carefree attitude typical of someone his age, but it’s unlikely that this will remain for long."
Danner cited Oscar Piastri’s recent experience as a cautionary tale. "We observed the same phenomenon last year with Piastri - once he lost that youthful carefreeness, it directly impacted his performance. While Oscar was winning, everything was fantastic, and Lando Norris was facing challenges. However, things shifted dramatically, and by the end of the year, it became difficult to watch him without feeling sympathy."
As pressure mounts, Danner anticipates a shift in dynamics at Mercedes as well. "Numerous factors will come into play throughout the year that will influence the standings. I don’t believe there is any need for concern regarding Russell at this point. His situation has been affected by the typical challenges that arise during races."
He pointed out that Russell has already encountered various setbacks. "George’s results have been influenced by several hurdles, misfortune, and naturally, a couple of his own errors. Most crucially, his car wasn't ideally set up, which can happen to anyone. I don’t think it will upset Russell."
Once the British driver regains his rhythm, Danner is confident about the likely results. "As soon as he figures out what’s going wrong and understands why he’s losing time, he will quickly remember what he’s capable of. I don’t think he’ll suddenly need antidepressants, and I doubt he’ll continue to fall behind his teammate."
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