Former Formula 1 driver Johnny Herbert believes that Mercedes may adopt “slight favouritism” towards Andrea Kimi Antonelli in this year’s Drivers’ Championship battle, due to the “risk” of hiring him being taken.
The Italian charged to the top of the championship standings last weekend after winning his second Grand Prix in Japan, following on from his maiden victory in China two weeks before.
By doing so, Antonelli has put title favourite and teammate George Russell on notice, and has shown that the Englishman may not have it entirely his own way in 2026.
Team Principal Toto Wolff has been publicly supportive of Antonelli throughout his time with the team, backing him during his tough, pointless run midway through his maiden campaign last year, when he came under criticism for his performances.
And Herbert, speaking in an exclusive interview with Motorsport Week, suggested that Antonelli, now with two wins under his belt, is firmly on the road to become a better all-round driver.
“Yes, definitely [he can win the title]. He’s only going to grow and get stronger as he matures,” the three-time Grand Prix-winner said.
“He’s very mature. He’s sort of mature and immature at the same time, Kimi, because he’s a very, very nice young man. But he’s got Toto on his shoulder, and that is a very powerful thing for him to have, that.
“It’s probably harder for George, because as much as you sort of try and probably blank it out, and I’m sure Toto doesn’t want it to look as if he’s favouring one more than the other, but it’s already been seen.
“So you already know that there is a slight favouritism probably towards Kimi, because he took that risk and he brought him on board.
“He supported him all the way through and is still supporting him at the moment. So that is a big strength for him to be able to take these performances that we’ve seen in the last couple of races, for sure.
“And they’re in a very good position, obviously, to go for the championship. It’s only going to be those two. No one else realistically is going to get there.
“The only other team that’s going to do that is probably Ferrari. We’ll have to see if McLaren can keep that consistency going with better performance in Japan.
“But, yeah, Mercedes, [it] is [the F1 title] just going to be between those two, and it’s a big opportunity again. A little bit like Lando and Oscar had last year.”
Herbert backs ‘hard worker’ Russell still lead Mercedes F1 title charge
Herbert did not forget Russell, however, who has earned his stripes over the last four years with the Brackley-based squad, having finished ahead of Lewis Hamilton in two out of the three seasons they were teammates.
The former FIA steward and current Lola brand ambassador noted this achievement as a reason for why Russell is also well-placed to take his first title, the Brit having shown that consistency is one of his greatest strengths, something that Antonelli needs to adopt.
“This is an opportunity for them [Russell and Antonelli] to win their first World Championship,” he said. “And George, I hope he’s able to. I like George.
“He has his ways, and some people don’t particularly gel with him when sometimes he makes comments, sometimes.
“But as a fundamental worker, he’s worked very hard to get into the position that he’s in. He’s worked very well with the likes of Lewis in the past and showed he could beat Lewis. And I hope it works. But Kimi’s looking very, very strong at the moment. And we’re going to have to see.
“The biggest thing, last thing, we’re going to have to see with Kimi is probably all he’s been his weakness is consistency.
“If he gets the consistency sorted out, which I’m sure he will, whether it be this year, I don’t know, but it’s looking pretty good that it might come his way.
“But George will be wanting to stop the rot.”
The proof may very well be in the pudding in Miami, where F1 returns after its month-long enforced gap.
Antonelli took pole for the Sprint Race there last year – his first of any kind – and if the teenager can produce another victory, his name will be cemented further into the title conversation.
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