Russell says Kimi Antonelli controls the title race and deserves to

Kimi Antonelli won his home Italian Grand Prix from 19th on the starting grid, then left Monza with a 66-point championship lead. His Mercedes teammate George Russell, who finished second, said the 20-year-old was fully entitled to control the title race.

"Definitely Kimi’s in control of it and he’s deserving to be in control of it," Russell told reporters. He said he was not thinking about a fight or a comeback, and would instead take the season race by race, trying to maximise each weekend. Overcoming the gap, he added, would be exceptionally challenging.

“

Definitely Kimi’s in control of it and he’s deserving to be in control of it

Antonelli's victory was his seventh in 13 rounds. It also made him the first Italian to win his home race since Ferrari's Ludovico Scarfiotti in 1966 and the first Italian driver to lead the championship at Monza since Alberto Ascari in 1953. Only Britain's John Watson, who won the 1983 U.S. Grand Prix West from 22nd, has won from farther back on the grid.

“

I don’t want to really look at it because we’ve seen in this season how things can change very quickly

Antonelli said he did not want to focus on the championship because fortunes could change quickly. "I don’t want to really look at it because we’ve seen in this season how things can change very quickly," he said. For him, the priority was to stay present and take each race as it came.

The home victory carried a special meaning. "I think this is the most special podium of the season. To see all the fans on the straight, it’s just incredible," Antonelli said. He added that the cheering grandstands gave him extra motivation to push harder and win.

“

I think this is the most special podium of the season. To see all the fans on the straight, it’s just incredible