Nonetheless, although, he admits to be “undoubtedly shocked” at how a lot progress he has made.
“I knew that I used to be going to be higher than my first yr,” he says. “Clearly, as a result of I believe final yr, in the direction of the top of the season, I began to place issues extra collectively, beginning to extract extra efficiency. However nonetheless, it was nonetheless not nice.
“Whereas this yr, it is lots totally different. Additionally as effectively, with the primary win, the primary pole, it took a number of weight off my shoulder.”
Antonelli has blossomed. Every thing appears to be coming so simply to him. If he drops again in a race, he recovers seamlessly and rapidly. Overtaking strikes are finished rapidly and decisively. There’s not been a circuit on which he has lacked tempo.
Russell, against this, has admitted to struggling and – whereas not attempting to take something away from Antonelli, who he’s all the time fast to reward – has expressed his opinion that his his driving model doesn’t go well with this yr’s new vehicles.
All of which raises a key query – how a lot of what’s taking place this yr is Antonelli stepping it up, and the way a lot Russell falling again?
“That is a really tough query,” Antonelli says. “I’ve undoubtedly stepped up.
“This yr undoubtedly the whole lot is new. So it requires additionally a little bit little bit of a special strategy. And attempting to adapt to a special automobile, which hasn’t been simple.”
His consistency this yr, he says, has come from the actual fact he has discovered “a pleasant rhythm within the season”.
“I all the time attempt to observe my routines,” Antonelli says, “the way in which I strategy the weekend. I attempt to strategy it on a regular basis the identical.
“I am nonetheless discovering my manner, however I’ve discovered a manner that helps me to be constant and in addition helps me to be constantly prepared after I go within the automobile.”
There are nonetheless moments when he misjudges issues, although. He cites the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, simply days after his excellent win in Monaco, probably the most dominant at that storied monitor for years.
“Monaco was a really excessive second for me within the season, after which I went to Barcelona and I used to be in all probability a bit too excited, particularly over a single lap,” he says.
“So I used to be overdriving, I used to be chasing the lap time and the outcome did not are available qualifying. I used to be really a bit far again and did not do a great lap.
“However that is as a result of I used to be attempting to do a bit an excessive amount of after a really excessive second in my profession. After which I understood that that isn’t the way in which.”
The lesson was utilized after his spellbinding win from nineteenth on the grid at Monza, his dwelling race, a outcome that Wolff stated “closed a cycle” from his 2024 crash.
Antonelli says: “After Monza, I reminded myself, ‘Do not make the identical mistake as you probably did after Monaco.'”
He received the Spanish Grand Prix seven days later, an eighth victory from 14 races thus far this season.
Success has inevitably led to fame, and with it consideration.
“Life has modified lots,” Antonelli says. “I am not going to lie. It has been a giant change, nevertheless it’s good to see a lot assist. Positively, one facet could be very good, however on the opposite facet, it’s a must to watch out. You have to shield your self a bit extra as a result of clearly you are extra uncovered.”
All yr, Antonelli has talked about specializing in course of, about doing the very best he can on each single day, not fascinated with the large image.
Now, although, for the primary time, he acknowledges the title – an achievement that may make him the youngest world champion in F1 historical past – is on his thoughts.
“Sure, I thought of it,” he says. “However once more, fascinated with it, I got here all the time to the identical conclusion that the sooner I end all this, the higher it’s.
“So I’ve obtained to simply maintain pushing. I maintain doing the very best I can each race. As a result of, yeah, that is the way in which. Simply not end. And till it is finished, it isn’t over.”
