‘Expectations are automatically a bit different now,’ Antonelli admits

Kimi Antonelli admits the start of the Formula 1 season has gone better than he predicted and has automatically increased expectations as the championship leader.

Mercedes has delivered a dominant car at the start of new technical and power unit regulations, locking out the front row at each of the first three events. While George Russell led home a one-two in the season opener in Melbourne, it has been Antonelli who has won the two races since and leads the championship during the unplanned April break.

“It's been a better start than what we all anticipated and hoped for, at least on my side,” Antonelli said. “I think definitely it's been a very strong start of the season. Expectations automatically are a bit different now, but at the end of the day I still try to keep the same mindset as I had in the first three races.

“[I’m] just trying to keep focusing on what I have to do, on the goal, and just trying to put myself in the best position as possible to then achieve a great result. What I don't want to do, now that obviously we're in a good position, is start to think about the final result or a long-term result.

“I just really want to focus on the present and how I can maximize every time I get in the car in order to get the best result. Focusing on the process and then little by little trying to raise the bar, raise the game, because obviously George is super strong and competitors will get closer. I just need to keep doing what I'm doing, but just trying to raise the bar little by little.”

Antonelli is only in his second season in F1, but he has already seen a significant difference in his own comfort returning to venues for a second time.

“Overall I feel stronger, much more. I feel more in control of the situation," he said. "Obviously, having done all the tracks last year, definitely it's helping this year so far. Also, having done a race weekend helps because I know better what to expect. I know better how to move around, how to manage myself during the weekend.

“Definitely, the experience of last year is playing a massive role into this year so far because obviously, I just feel more relaxed, more confident – as I said before, I'm more in control of the situation.

“For sure, this might even help at those tracks where last year I struggled a lot. Let's see. But obviously, the goal already from my [point of view] is to be back from where we left in Japan or be back even stronger from where we left.”