Former Haas Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner has warned George Russell that team-mate Kimi Antonelli is currently "unbelievable", making a title challenge a huge task.
The 19-year-old looked highly likely to win the British Grand Prix before suffering an unusual wheel shield failure, which saw him fail to score a point.
Russell capitalised and finished second behind Charles Leclerc, reducing Antonelli's lead in the Formula 1 drivers' championship to 25 points after nine rounds.
It has created the belief that Antonelli will not run away with the championship this year, although Steiner firmly believes it is still very much the Italian's title to lose.
Russell has already conceded this season that he must improve to truly take the fight to Antonelli, but Steiner struggled to see any outcome other than the teenager becoming world champion.
The former team principal was left in awe of Antonelli at Silverstone, particularly for how he dealt with Lewis Hamilton in the Sprint before going on to claim pole position.
Asked if Russell can improve and fight for the title, Steiner told the Red Flags podcast: "I'll go back to last year with Lando [Norris]. Lando was struggling in the first half of the season, and then he came back stronger, so you can't write anybody off.
"Obviously, George admitted himself that he needs to be better than this, and the only one who can do that is himself. He knows that, but can he do it? And can Kimi keep this form?
"I mean, Kimi, at the moment, the guy is, for me, something unbelievable. What he does is just wow. The amazing thing in the Sprint was that he wasn't on pole, but he waited. He knew that he would get Lewis. He knew exactly what he was doing.
"He wasn't aggressive; he was just staying right behind him. Then, as soon as the opportunity came – I think he just had better tyres at the time – he passed him and off he went. Then he came back on Saturday afternoon and put the car on pole. The guy is so cool."
Also interesting:
Join RacingNews365's Nick Golding and Samuel Coop as they look back on last weekend's British Grand Prix! They discuss whether the title fight has been blown wide open, if Ferrari is a genuine contender and Max Verstappen's major criticism of the RB22.
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