Nico Rosberg suggests that Kimi Antonelli might become "increasingly anxious" in the battle for the F1 championship.
Kimi Antonelli may become increasingly "more and more anxious" in his pursuit of the 2026 Formula 1 championship if advancements from McLaren and Ferrari pull him back into the competition, cautions 2016 F1 champion Nico Rosberg.
The Mercedes driver presently enjoys an 81-point lead in the standings over his teammate George Russell, who is in second place. He expanded his advantage with a win at the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix at the Madring circuit, taking advantage of a well-timed virtual safety car.
In a post-race interview, Antonelli acknowledged that this wasn’t his preferred way to secure a win and that without the virtual safety car, McLaren's Lando Norris would likely have claimed the top spot.
During a segment on the Sky Sports F1 Show, Rosberg drew comparisons to the conclusion of his own championship fight in 2016.
"The worst-case scenario is if McLaren starts to pull ahead and perhaps Ferrari also shows improvement, which could lead to Kimi slipping back into the pack a bit more.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
"This is reminiscent of my championship year when I found myself dropping back into the pack during the final four races due to not driving as well as I could.
"In Mexico, for example, right up until the end of qualifying, I was only sixth in the rankings in Q3. During those races, I was in P3 at times, not P2, and [Max] Verstappen was making contact with me every single race.
"So, if he were to slide back into the pack just a little bit again, the risk increases, and you begin to feel more and more anxious about everything."
The next round of the 2026 season, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, is scheduled for 24-26 September.
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