Mansell says Antonelli outpaces Russell and Hamilton

summary: Former champion Nigel Mansell says rookie Kimi Antonelli ahead of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, leading the Drivers’ standings after three races. He cautions the season will test his consistency.

content:

Former champion Nigel Mansell says rookie Kimi Antonelli already outpaces George Russell and Lewis Hamilton. After three rounds Antonelli leads with 72 points, eight ahead of Russell and 23 ahead of Hamilton. Mansell predicts the Italian could become the season’s surprise frontrunner.

Why it matters:

Antonelli’s early dominance shifts the focus from the expected Mercedes‑Ferrari duel to a fresh rookie narrative, attracting new fans. A rookie beating seasoned champions forces both top teams to rethink development and driver strategies across the 22‑race calendar.

The details:

• Antonelli beat Hamilton by 25 seconds in China and Piastri by 13 seconds in Japan, showing a consistent pace advantage.
• Russell’s best was a 15‑second lead over the nearest Ferrari in Australia, showing strong but not dominant form.
• Mansell praised Antonelli’s focus, noting the Italian now leads the standings (72 points) ahead of Russell (63) and Hamilton (55), and warned the 22‑race season tests consistency.

What's next:

With 19 races remaining, Antonelli’s composure will be tested at high‑speed venues like Monaco and Silverstone. Mercedes will push to close the gap with Russell, while Ferrari hopes Hamilton can keep his momentum. ADUO upgrades after Miami may narrow the power‑unit gap, keeping the title race wide open.