Kimi Antonelli has established himself as the man to beat in the 2026 Formula 1 season, securing four consecutive Grand Prix victories to build a commanding lead in the Drivers’ Championship. Following his latest triumph at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Canada, Antonelli now sits 43 points ahead of his Mercedes teammate, George Russell.

Refusing to Relax

Despite the sizeable points gap—which is notably larger than the internal McLaren battle between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri during the 2025 title race—Antonelli is refusing to get comfortable. Speaking ahead of the European leg of the season, the young Italian emphasized the need for continuous improvement.

"I think it’s still very early to talk about that, and of course, now I have this gap, but that doesn’t mean I can relax and just take it easier. Instead, I need to keep levelling up and keep raising the bar, because it’s not going to be easy," Antonelli stated.

Intense Internal Rivalry

The victory in Canada was far from a walkover, featuring a fierce battle with Russell before the latter suffered terminal technical issues. Antonelli described the fight as "a little bit on the edge," noting that both drivers were pushing their absolute limits in an effort to win.

Antonelli acknowledged the speed of his teammate, adding, "Competitors are getting closer, and also George is super quick, so definitely I’m just going to try to focus on myself and enjoy the driving."

Mercedes' Technical Edge

The result ensures that Mercedes remains unbeaten so far in 2026. While a significant upgrade package introduced in Montreal seems to have bolstered the team's advantage, Antonelli remains cautious about the data, citing the "very weird" tyre conditions and fluctuating temperatures in Canada as factors that may have skewed the results.

The team expects to have a clearer picture of the car's actual performance trajectory over the next few race weekends.