Kimi Antonelli sets Mercedes mission after voicing surprise

Kimi Antonelli is focused on continuing to "learn" and build on his unexpectedly strong first half of the F1 season when the campaign resumes at Zandvoort in late August.

The Mercedes driver has far outstripped both his and outside expectations in his second year in the championship and leads the standings at the summer break.

Six victories and nine podiums overall from the opening 11 rounds of the season have put the young Italian two grand prix wins clear of his closest rival, Lewis Hamilton.

The Ferrari driver, sitting 50 points exactly adrift, is nine points clear of Antonelli's team-mate George Russell in third, whose early bad luck has morphed into unexplainable underperformance in the sister W17.

When his current position in the F1 drivers' championship fight was put to him, Antonelli shared his surprise at how the campaign is panning out.

"Well, for sure, I did not expect to find myself in this position," the 19-year-old told media, including RacingNews365, whilst reflecting at the halfway stage of the year.

"But the car has been extremely good, the team has done an incredible job and, on my side, I try to maximise every opportunity I have."

Despite his relatively comfortable position, the six-time grand prix winner insists there is still more that must be done — both for him and his team — to stave off the opposition, and is committed to continue building on the impressive foundation he has laid thus far.

"Of course, there’s still lots of work to do, lots to learn, but it was a good first half of the season," he added.

"Now I’m looking forward to the second half, and we’re just going to keep pushing."