F1 legend issues George Russell message in Kimi Antonelli pursuit

Formula 1 legend Emerson Fittipaldi has issued George Russell a message that he must start taking pressure "in a positive way" if he is to catch Kimi Antonelli.

The Briton finds himself third in the drivers' standings and 59 points adrift of his teenage Mercedes team-mate, who continues to go from strength to strength.

Russell entered the new power unit regulations as the clear favourite for the championship, an expectation that was further enhanced after he won the opening round in Australia.

However, since then, Russell has claimed just one further victory compared to Antonelli's six, with the King's Lynn-born driver finding himself in a real dip in form.

Nothing has really worked for Russell throughout much of the first half of the season, owing to a combination of reliability problems and a genuine lack of pace.

However, Fittipaldi still believes Russell can make the rest of the year exciting for fans if he can harness pressure correctly.

"Kimi Antonelli is doing a fantastic job, and he’s showing his potential," the two-time champion told F1's official website. "I’ve known him since he was racing in karts many, many years ago. 

"I know Marco, his father, very well, and I know the family well. Marco even coached my son Emmo in F4. It’s a great Italian family from Bologna – good people, racing people.

"I think for the sport it’s good to have a new boy on the block, you know? He’s only 19, and he can win the championship. He’s putting tremendous pressure on George Russell, and George, again, has shown he’s strong. 

"If George takes that pressure in a positive way, like he showed many times he can do, I think it will be very interesting for the fans. It’s going to be a dice for the rest of the championship."