(Motorsport-Total.com) – Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya sees a possible mental advantage for Kimi Antonelli over his Mercedes teammate George Russell, should the Italian also come out on top at the Canadian Grand Prix.
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Montoya explained during the Formula 1 broadcast after the race in Miami that another win by Antonelli against Russell on a track where the Brit has already been successful can have a special impact.
“If he can beat George there, he has him mentally under control and that is a big deal,” Montoya says looking ahead to the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix.
Antonelli extends championship lead
Antonelli had previously secured his third consecutive win at the Miami race and extended his lead in the drivers’ world championship to twenty points. Russell, on the other hand, is experiencing a difficult weekend at the Miami International Autodrome.
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Despite the current setbacks, Russell remains confident and speaks highly of his 19-year-old teammate. “He is a fantastic driver and has been extremely fast from the start. He has won all championships as a young driver,” Russell tells Sky Sports F1.
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“I still have confidence in myself and have been there before. I haven’t forgotten how to drive. It’s just a somewhat difficult phase, but we are only four races into the season, it’s still a long way, and I think we will reassess the situation in the coming weeks,” the Brit continues.
Russell faces pivotal weekend in Canada
Before the start of the 2026 season, Russell was considered one of the favorites. However, his teammate Antonelli has already established himself as a serious challenger after just a few race weekends. At the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix, where Russell won in 2025, the Brit wants to stop his teammate’s dominance.
Montoya sees not only the sporting performance as decisive but also the effects of the technical updates. “The other thing is that everyone who brought updates here had one where the car didn’t work. That will be a big question. When you bring updates to the car, it gets faster, but it behaves differently. Who will like the car?”
In Montreal, it will likely become clear early in the season who handles the growing internal and external pressure better. Especially in direct comparison, it can first become clear whether the young talent Antonelli or the experienced Russell has the stronger nerves at the decisive moment.
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