Key facts
- Rookie Kimi Antonelli has won five consecutive Formula 1 races.
- Antonelli leads the championship with 156 points after six races.
- George Russell, who started the season as Mercedes's lead driver, is now third with 88 points.
- Antonelli became the youngest pole-sitter and points leader in F1 history this season.
- The Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix is the next race on the calendar.
- The Spanish Grand Prix name will be used for a new race in Madrid starting in September.
Formula 1 rookie Kimi Antonelli has emerged as the sport's new star, winning five consecutive races and leading the championship, significantly overshadowing his Mercedes teammate George Russell. Antonelli, at 19, has made history by becoming the youngest pole-sitter and points leader, with his winning streak tying Lewis Hamilton's record.
Russell, who was expected to contend for the title this season with Mercedes's strong car, now finds himself third in the standings with 88 points, trailing Antonelli's 156 points. This marks a difficult period for Russell, who had outperformed his previous teammate Hamilton. Antonelli's current success contrasts sharply with his performance last season, where he finished seventh with 150 points while Russell secured two victories and 319 points.
As the season heads to the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, Russell is focusing on driving by instinct rather than overthinking data, hoping the track will offer him a chance to improve his record there, where he has never finished on the podium. The race itself will be the last to be called the Spanish Grand Prix, as the name will be transferred to a new event in Madrid next year, while Barcelona will alternate hosting duties with Belgium starting in 2028.