Championship frontrunner Antonelli has apparently spooked himself and must clear his mind to avoid buckling under the title fight, Naomi Schiff warned.
Antonelli arrived in Baku with an 81‑point cushion, yet teammate Russell turned pole into a win, trimming the lead to 66 points as the Italian rookie slipped to fifth from 16th.
Schiff said watching Antonelli this weekend, beyond the qualifying slip, his on‑track demeanor suggested a title‑chasing driver who’s almost scared himself too much.
He appears tense, fearing errors, which is far from the confidence he needs.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
She noted he simply must exit his head; we’ve seen it before. Last year he was similarly tangled, then broke free and drove with flair. In my view, shedding that mental fog could reignite his pace.
Schiff hopes he won’t scare himself out of contention, stressing the psychological battle can trap a driver in self‑doubt.
Despite a rough Baku weekend, Antonelli still enjoys a 66‑point advantage over Russell, who remains second in the standings.
We want your thoughts!
What would you like to see on the next race?
Take our 5 minute survey.
– The Team