‘Russell and Antonelli are a safer bet to Verstappen, and a lot cheaper too’

April 26, 2025

in Formula 1

Reading Time: 2 mins read

Karun Chandhok believes that George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli have given Toto Wolff, Mercedes’ group principal and CEO, little to no purpose to signal Max Verstappen.

For Chandhok, former F1 driver turned pundit, Russell is part of the highest echelon of F1. “If in the present day we needed to decide your prime performers of the primary 5 weekends, you’d in all probability go, Piastri, Verstappen, Russell as your prime three, would not you? He is been excellent, George, this 12 months,” the Indian said in Sky’s F1 podcast.

In Saudi Arabia Wolff mentioned that because the state of affairs is in the intervening time, he’s glad together with his driver line-up, however Chandhok, while stressing that if the reigning world champion is an choice you may’t overlook that, he additionally pointed to the progress Antonelli is making, with the Italian “getting stronger and stronger.”

Antonelli like Piastri?

McLaren driver and present chief within the standings, Oscar Piastri, has risen to a full blown championship contender in merely two years. If Antonelli might replicate the Australian’s progress then there’d be little purpose for Wolff to go for Verstappen and, it could be a considerably cheaper various, the Indian notes.

“Toto in all probability takes some consolation in the best way Oscar’s progressed within the final two years as a result of it reveals really how tough it’s for a rookie nonetheless. Not when it comes to outright pace however when it comes to tyre administration and all the opposite stuff that goes with being an F1 driver.”

“The step Oscar made between 23 to 24 after which 24 to 25. If Antonelli does comparable steps then really George and Antonelli is a robust sufficient lineup and it is in all probability gonna value him lots lower than if he needed to pay Max a whole lot of zeros I am certain.”

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