Antonelli insists he still has more to prove despite dominant start

Kimi Antonelli has built a 66-point championship lead over Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton after six races, with five grand prix wins already this season. Even so, the 19-year-old Mercedes driver says he still needs to show how far he can grow under sustained pressure.

The contrast with last year is sharp. Antonelli finished seventh in the championship, well behind team-mate George Russell, and has described that difficult rookie-season spell as painful at the time but important for his confidence and maturity.

This season, the internal Mercedes picture has shifted. Russell won the opener but has since fallen behind Antonelli in the standings, while Antonelli also holds a narrow qualifying edge over him so far. Russell has pointed to bad luck in parts of his campaign, while also acknowledging that the title picture is no longer his immediate focus.

The wider paddock response has been notable, with Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen both praising Antonelli's talent and composure. The key question now is whether his rapid rise can remain stable across a full championship run, especially as expectations around Mercedes and its young leader grow.