F1 news: George Russell says Kimi Antonelli deserves to lead the title race

George Russell believes Mercedes team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli deserves to lead the Formula One Drivers' Championship despite the gap between the pair shrinking to just 25 points following the British Grand Prix.

Speaking after securing a podium finish at Silverstone, Russell admitted Antonelli has outperformed him over the opening nine races of the season.

He also acknowledged that both he and Mercedes still have work to do if they are to mount a sustained title challenge.

Russell praises Antonelli's performances

Although Russell has significantly reduced the championship deficit in recent races, the Briton insisted the current standings fairly reflect Antonelli's performances.

"Based on my performances and based on his performances over the course of these nine races, I think a 25-point gap in his favour is probably correct," Russell told Sky Sports.

Russell went even further by stating that Antonelli has simply performed better throughout the campaign.

"He has done a better job than me this year to this point, so he deserves to be ahead of me."

He added that while the precise margin could be debated, a championship gap of somewhere between 10 and 30 points accurately represents how the season has unfolded.

READ MORE: F1 analysis: Ranking George Russell's best moments with Mercedes

Mercedes still searching for answers

Despite standing on the podium at Silverstone, Russell admitted he left the weekend with mixed emotions.

The Mercedes driver explained that although the car occasionally felt competitive, translating that feeling into consistent lap time remains a challenge.

"The feeling was good, but the lap times were slow."

He also acknowledged there were areas within his own control that still require improvement.

"I'm still struggling to understand this car.

"If I want to fight for the championship, the performances need to be better. I need to be better. I need to be working better with my team. We need to be maximising everything."

Ferrari adding pressure

Russell also warned that Mercedes cannot afford to focus solely on the intra-team battle with Antonelli.

Ferrari's recent resurgence has added another dimension to the championship fight.

"We've got a close fight now with Ferrari, so it's not just Kimi and I. Lewis is still very close. It needs to be improved."

With Ferrari closing the gap in both championships, Russell believes Mercedes must continue extracting more performance from the W17 if they are to remain in contention.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: British Grand Prix betting tips: Predictions and odds for the Silverstone race

Championship still alive

While Russell has gained considerable ground since Monaco, he insists the current trend cannot continue without improved performances.

"I left Monaco three races ago 68 points behind and I leave here 25 points behind," he said.

However, he was quick to temper expectations.

"It won't continue like that forever unless the results, the performance, gets better."

The comments underline Russell's belief that consistency, rather than relying on rivals' misfortune, will determine whether he can genuinely challenge for the championship over the remainder of the season.

Respect remains at the heart of Mercedes

Russell's remarks also highlight the healthy competitive environment developing within Mercedes.

Rather than downplaying Antonelli's performances, the British driver openly acknowledged the Italian's impressive start to the season and accepted that the championship leader has earned his position through merit.

With the title race entering a crucial phase and Ferrari continuing to apply pressure, Mercedes now face the challenge of turning mutual respect into sustained championship momentum over the second half of the campaign.

READ NEXT: F1 news: Charles Leclerc wins dramatic British GP as Kimi Antonelli's lead is cut