Antonelli’s title charge doubted as F1 analyst issues stark warning

The Italian driver arrives off the back of a stunning start to the season, having secured his second consecutive win at Suzuka after already triumphing in style in China in round two.

In Japan, Antonelli also moved to the top of the championship standings, capitalising on a difficult race for his team-mate and becoming the youngest championship leader in Formula 1 history.

However, speaking to a betting site, the former Colombian driver has cast doubt on whether Antonelli can sustain that level of performance over the course of the season.

“I don’t think Antonelli will be world champion. When Antonelli starts seeing that he might be leading the points, I think the pressure might get to him because he is so young and hasn’t experienced this before.”

According to Montoya, it is far easier to be the hunter than the hunted, a position that could now push the Italian into making the same kind of mistakes he showed last season.

Speaking on the Up to Speed Podcast, the former F1 driver framed the championship fight as an all-out battle, especially in light of Kimi Antonelli’s first win, with Russell needing to respond decisively to the rising pressure.

He also referenced behind-the-scenes content released by Mercedes, which showed Toto Wolff both supporting Russell in the moment and reaffirming his faith in him, offering a revealing insight into the team’s internal dynamic.