George Russell says he did not need “validation” of his abilities after being outshone by Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli so far this season ahead of earning pole position for the Canadian Grand Prix Sprint.
Russell won the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, only for Antonelli to then reel off three victories in a row, in China, Japan and Miami, to open up a 20-point lead over the Brit at the top of the Drivers’ Championship.
Russell – who finished fourth in Florida last time out – pipped the young Italian by 0.068s in Montreal on Friday as Mercedes sealed a one-two in Sprint Qualifying.
He said afterwards: “I’ve been in the sport for seven years and the trends have been there for seven years.
“It’s just you guys now see it because I’m fighting for victories and for a championship. I didn’t need that validation.
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Watch how Russell earned Sprint pole position at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
“Maybe if we had [the cancelled races] in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia between Miami [and Japan], and they were good races like we had in Melbourne and China, the conversation wouldn’t have even been there.
“This feels great after a tough Miami but I never doubted myself. I know what I can do. Miami is unique but this is an amazing circuit with high grip.
“It feels you are driving a proper F1 car around here, which is how it should be.”
Wolff: Good for both drivers to fight like this
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff insists he had “never doubted” Russell, who claimed victory at the Canadian Grand Prix a year ago, and feels his internal battle with Antonelli can only benefit the Silver Arrows.
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Full highlights of Sprint Qualifying in Montreal as Russell and Kimi Antonelli claimed a Mercedes one-two, ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri
Wolff added: “It’s only the baby race but still it’s good to see the pace is there, also for [Russell’s] confidence. But I’ve never doubted, we’ve never doubted in that. Miami was a bad track.
“It’s always clear that [Antonelli] is fast and he has shown that. I think it’s good for both drivers to fight like this. It makes the team faster, and there’s not a lot in it.”
Sky Sports F1’s Jamie Chadwick added: “I think George needs to be comfortable being uncomfortable this year, because Kimi is going to be at his heels all year.
“There’ s no doubt about that. At times Kimi is going to be quicker, and I think George isn’t quite used to that yet.
“He needs to get used to that feeling, and then I think he can find confidence in his own driving like he did today, which was a very strong performance.”
George is very experienced. He has been waiting for this moment to have a car that could bring him that first drivers’ championship. He can sense it in his grasp. He has been relentless, consistent and made very few mistakes for many seasons which will be his strength over Antonelli.
Antonelli rues ‘mistake’ as upgrades ‘give Mercedes edge’
Antonelli, meanwhile, was frustrated by his “mistake” in the final leg of Sprit Qualifying as he had to make do with second place, but hailed the upgrades that appear to have given Mercedes an even bigger advantage over their rivals.
He said: “The lap was quite bad, to be fair. It was not clean at all. I did a mistake and that threw me off a little bit.
“I then decided to go for a lap on the soft tyres without doing prep. The tyres were a bit cold. But still P2, so the potential is definitely there.
“We brought the upgrades so we still need to understand the package a little bit more as the balance has changed. But it seems to have given us a bit of an edge again.”
Russell made a strong start to the weekend in Montreal
Russell will now be looking for his second Sprint victory of the campaign – the 28-year-old triumphed in China before McLaren’s Lando Norris won in Miami – and is “hoping for the best” at the start, an area which has been Mercedes’ biggest weakness so far this season.
The Mercedes driver added: “At the moment, getting off the line for us is a bit like flipping a coin and hoping for the best.
“We are making baby steps in that regard, but we’re far from where we need to be. McLaren are behind us, they’ve been making fast starts, Lewis Hamilton too.”
“I’m enjoying the moment and will try to carry over the confidence.”
Sky Sports F1’s Canadian GP schedule
Saturday May 23
2.40pm: F1 Academy Race 1
4pm: Canadian GP Sprint build-up
5pm: CANADIAN GP SPRINT
6.30pm: Ted’s Sprint Notebook
7pm: F2 Sprint*
8.10pm: Canadian GP Qualifying build-up*
9pm: CANADIAN GP QUALIFYING*
11pm: F1 Academy Race 2*
11.45pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook*
Sunday May 24
3.40pm: F1 Academy Race 3
5pm: F2 Feature Race
7.30pm: Canadian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
9pm: THE CANADIAN GRAND PRIX*
11am: Canadian GP reaction: Chequered Flag*
12am: Ted’s Notebook*
*Also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 is in Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix and another Sprint weekend. Watch live on Sky Sports F1, with Sunday’s race at 9pm. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
