Norris says Antonelli has been two levels above Russell

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Archive photograph: Lando Norris · 2024-08-25Archive photo · 2024-08-25 · Original: Steffen Prößdorf; Derivative work: Mb2437 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Norris praises Antonelli’s progress and consistency while making clear he still rates Russell highly.

GPBeat · NewsroomGPBeat · Newsroom29 Oct 2026, 18:44 · 1 min

Lando Norris says Kimi Antonelli has performed two levels above George Russell throughout the 2026 season, as the Italian closes in on the title ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix.

Norris pointed to Antonelli’s major step from 2025 to 2026, citing his ability to optimise his driving and understand how to drive the 2026 car. He also praised the Italian’s handling of pressure, consistency against Russell and lack of mistakes in qualifying and races.

The comparison came alongside clear praise for Russell: Norris said he rates the Briton and considers him a very good driver.

Antonelli leads Russell by 123 points and Lewis Hamilton by 124, with 125 points still available this season. That keeps Russell mathematically in the fight: the maximum remaining score is only two points greater than his deficit.

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