Overview
- Kimi Antonelli has won China, Japan and Miami from pole to lead George Russell by 20 points and become the youngest championship leader.
- Toto Wolff has cut back media and sponsor demands on his 19-year-old to keep pressure in check as interest surges in Italy.
- Mercedes admits its poor launches are a team issue and is working on clutch and grid setup fixes after repeated weak starts.
- The team is set to roll out a major upgrade in Montreal after McLaren’s Miami package closed the gap and pushed Antonelli late in the race.
- Russell faces a pointed test in Canada, with Wolff backing a rebound as voices from Sky and former team bosses tip momentum toward Antonelli.