Antonelli Warns F1 Rivals He Is A Shark As Championship Lead Grows

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli has spoken candidly about his rising profile as he finds himself at the centre of the Formula 1 title fight.
The Italian leads team-mate George Russell by 43 points in the championship standings after Russell retired from the Canadian Grand Prix.
Russell himself has acknowledged the scale of Antonelli’s advantage, labelling the title fight as “Antonelli’s to lose” following the Canadian race.
Antonelli’s growing success on track has attracted a significantly larger fanbase, and the young driver has been reflecting on what that means to him.
Speaking to Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport, Antonelli made clear he wants to make an impression both on and off the circuit.
Antonelli said: “I’m happy that more and more people are following me and I hope to deliver great results every weekend, but I’d also like to make an impact off the track, promoting the right values.”
He was equally blunt about the brutal nature of Formula 1 competition, saying: “I am exactly as you see me and I don’t want to change who I am. Then, of course, on the track it’s a whole different story: the angelic face is only off the track. Because F1 is a tank full of sharks and you either eat or get eaten.”
The Mercedes driver also made clear he is determined to remain at the front, saying: “I know they look at me with respect now, because I’ve shown what I’m capable of. I try to send a clear message because I want to stay ahead; that’s the goal.”
Away from the paddock, Antonelli described a warmer dynamic with his rivals, including a close bond with Max Verstappen outside of racing commitments.
Antonelli added: “Outside the paddock there’s room for friendship, for example with Verstappen, with whom I’ve always got on really well. We talk about GT, about F1, but also about our private lives, our own stuff… at the end of the day, outside the paddock we’re just normal lads!”
Antonelli will next take to the track at the Monaco Grand Prix, which runs from Friday, June 5 through to Sunday, June 7, with lights out scheduled for 15:00 local time.
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