Kimi Antonelli says beating George Russell at his home race a strong statement but...

Antonelli heads into Silverstone this weekend leading Russell by 40 points in the 2026 Formula 1 Drivers Championship but has been beaten by the Briton in the last two races in Austria and Barcelona. He DNF'd from the latter with battery issues.

The Italian is naturally looking to strike back this weekend but will be entering hostile territory, so to say, with the British Grand Prix being Russell's home race.

But he insists on taking a rational approach; he said: "I certainly don't want to go out on track thinking I have to beat George at all costs.

"Because with that approach, I would end up focusing only on that goal, losing sight of the bigger picture.

“Clearly, finishing ahead of him at his home race would be a strong statement, but it's not just a matter of nationality. On paper, this track should suit his driving style very well, although the same was said about Barcelona.

“I spent a lot of time in the simulator trying to find the most natural approach possible to tackle Silverstone's fast and very long corners.

"You need to be a bit gentler with the steering, and that was precisely the aspect I focused on the most," he revealed.

Amid speculation about Max Verstappen's future, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff recently said there are no plans to change the driver lineup, and Antonelli admits knowing his future is secure takes a lot of pressure off.

He said: "The positive side of this situation is that you can solely focus on driving, knowing there are no lingering question marks.

“On the other hand, though, there is also the danger that having certainties might lead you to relax, and that is a trap I don't want to fall into. My approach remains to go out on track to prove I deserve the opportunity I've been given.

"Beyond that, I think I will spend a much more peaceful summer compared to 12 months ago," Antonelli concluded. (Reporting by Agnes Carlier)