The Italian driver Kimi Antonelli, current champion of Formula 1, could be exposed to an increase in pressure in his quest for the 2026 championship, according to former champion Nico Rosberg. Rosberg has expressed his concern that the improvements of McLaren and Ferrari could cause Antonelli to fall back in the standings, triggering a nervous reaction in the young driver.
Currently, Antonelli holds an advantage of 81 points over his teammate, George Russell, who is in second place. Recently, Antonelli extended his lead with a victory at the opening of the Spanish Grand Prix at the Madrig circuit, a triumph he achieved by taking advantage of a strategic moment of virtual safety car.
After the race, Antonelli acknowledged that it was not the way he would prefer to win and that without the help of the virtual safety car, Lando Norris from McLaren would likely have been the winner.
In an appearance on the Sky Sports F1 program, Rosberg compared Antonelli’s situation to his own experience during his title battle in 2016. He warned that if McLaren and Ferrari improve their competitiveness, Antonelli could find himself in a panic situation if he starts to fall back in the standings.
Rosberg recalled moments when pressure affected him: «If you start to fall back in the last races, the nerves increase and it’s hard to stay calm.”
Antonelli’s next challenge will be the 15th round of the season, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which will take place from September 24 to 26.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
