Antonelli acknowledges that Russell's 'stay calm' remark was directed toward him.

      "Should I create one for him?"

      Kimi Antonelli has acknowledged that George Russell’s now-famous "stai calmo" radio message after qualifying in Austria was indeed aimed at his Mercedes teammate. After securing pole position at the Red Bull Ring, Russell celebrated over the radio with the Italian phrase "stai calmo" ("stay calm"), leading to speculation that he was teasing Antonelli after the championship leader skipped his final lap under yellow flags.

      Russell later claimed there was "absolutely nothing intentional" behind the message. However, Antonelli smiled when questioned about it at Silverstone. "Should I create one for him?" the Italian joked. "Let’s see if I can come up with something. Anyway, I don’t think much about what he said, although we understand why he said it."

      The 19-year-old is now getting ready for what he anticipates will be one of Russell’s strongest weekends of the season, following his impressive victory at the Austrian GP. "Silverstone is somewhat of a home race for the entire team, but particularly for Russell, as it’s his track," Antonelli stated. He acknowledged that the fast and flowing British circuit should naturally benefit his teammate.

      "I don’t want to approach the track with the mindset of beating Russell at all costs, because with that attitude, I would end up concentrating solely on that goal and lose sight of the bigger picture," he elaborated. "Clearly, finishing ahead of him in his home race would be a positive indicator, but it’s not merely a matter of nationality. Here, we’re discussing the track’s characteristics. On paper, this circuit should suit his driving style better."

      "I hope that the work I’ve done in the simulator and my commitment can make a difference, as it would be a far more significant result for the championship than for individual standings." Antonelli, who leads Russell by 40 points after Austria, admitted he had wished for more than just a third-place finish last weekend. "Obviously, I wasn’t satisfied," he said. "It frustrated me to be so close to the top two without having a couple of extra laps to play my cards. It would have been nice to try, but the race lasts 71 laps, and that’s just how it went."