Why the F1 title race is not over yet... — SkimNews
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- Kimi Antonelli won the Italian Grand Prix from 19th on the grid, extending his championship lead to 66 points over George Russell, 76 over Lewis Hamilton and 96 over Lando Norris with 10 rounds remaining
- Toto Wolff called Monza 'an outlier on the track,' noting Mercedes excelled on its long straights through superior electrical deployment of their power unit and that no remaining circuit is as power-unit-dominant
- Mercedes is not bringing car upgrades until the Malaysian Grand Prix in October, leaving them vulnerable at this weekend's new Madrid circuit, which Wolff said their current car lacks the performance for
- McLaren boss Andrea Stella said the team's realistic target is to consistently fight for wins, noting McLaren tracks will be Malaysia, Austin and Brazil where long corners suit their car, while bringing new upgrades to Baku
- Antonelli, 20, in only his second F1 season, acknowledged 'many races left' and that McLaren, Ferrari or Red Bull could suddenly be fastest at any upcoming venue
- George Russell faces the bleakest outlook of Mercedes' two drivers, as Wolff and the team implied he does not have the pace to match team-mate Antonelli despite running the same equipment
- Formula 1 heads to the new Madring circuit in Madrid for the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend, with every session live on Sky Sports F1
Why it matters: With 10 rounds left and Mercedes admitting they have no upgrades until Malaysia, the Madrid and Baku races could see Antonelli's lead shrink rapidly if McLaren's upgrades deliver as Stella expects. A single non-podium for Antonelli at a McLaren-friendly track could allow Norris or Hamilton to claw back double-digit points, turning a comfortable 66-point cushion into a genuine fight before Malaysia — where Mercedes' upgrade may finally arrive.
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