Why Kimi Antonelli is on the 'path to greatness' in F1

Jolyon Palmer has underlined the significance of Kimi Antonelli's latest F1 victory after the Mercedes driver joined one of the sport's most exclusive groups with a fifth consecutive win.

Antonelli's grand chelem triumph at Monaco, of which he is now the youngest F1 driver to achieve, continued a dominant run that has strengthened his position at the top of the drivers' championship.

Writing in his post-weekend column for F1.com, former Renault driver Palmer highlighted how Antonelli's Monaco performance had placed him among some of the greatest names in the championship's history.

"It's five in a row now for Kimi Antonelli, who put in his best work yet across the Monaco weekend and left us searching for yet more superlatives for a man who is now in a very illustrious club," Palmer wrote.

"Only Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg, Alberto Ascari, Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel have won more F1 races consecutively, and you can add Lewis Hamilton, Jack Brabham, Jim Clark and Nigel Mansell to that list, for drivers whom Kimi has now matched with his fifth."

Palmer pointed out that every driver in that group became a world champion, with most winning multiple titles.

"What do they all have in common? They are all world champions, and bar Rosberg and Mansell, they are multiple world champions, some of the greatest names the sport has ever seen," he added.

Title now in Antonelli's hands, says Palmer

After the Canadian Grand Prix and again before the Monaco weekend, George Russell argued that the drivers' championship was his Mercedes team-mate's to lose, a view shaped by the advantage the Italian had already built at the top of the standings.

Antonelli had arrived in Monte Carlo with four straight wins, but Palmer noted that the 19-year-old was quick to play down that claim.

"On Thursday, he played down George Russell's 'it's Kimi's to lose' comment by saying 'how can I lose something I haven't even achieved?'," Palmer wrote.

Monaco only strengthened Antonelli's championship position. He controlled the race from lights to flag, built a commanding lead before a late safety car bunched the field, then held his nerve through a red flag stoppage and a standing-restart to keep Hamilton behind and sprint to victory.

Antonelli now leads the championship with 156 points, 66 clear of second-placed Hamilton on 90, with Russell a further two points behind on 88.

"Well, surely now even he must consider that the title is in his hands, what with a 66-point advantage over second-placed Lewis Hamilton and an additional two points over his team-mate, who is surely the greater threat," Palmer said.

With 16 rounds — at least — still remaining, Palmer acknowledged there is still a long way to go, but pointed out that Antonelli's current run has put him on a clear path towards a potential first title.

"That's the trajectory that the 19-year-old Italian is now on, and the title must be well within his sights," he concluded.