Strange things can happen in Formula 1. Just ask Max Verstappen, who couldn't believe his luck when McLaren handed him a way into the 2025 title fight on a silver platter. Although he eventually missed out by two points to Lando Norris, he was essentially battling with one hand behind his back in an inferior car. But this year's fight has a distinctly different feel to it. Dominant championship leader Kimi Antonelli has shown fewer, if any, signs of weakness. Mercedes has executed race weekends at a high level - as opposed to rival Ferrari, for example - and it appears to have nixed the most pressing reliability gremlins with the power unit.

Over the European summer, Mercedes was starting to field questions over its lack of development compared to its peers, with a string of four consecutive qualifying defeats starting to make things uncomfortable for Toto Wolff as both Ferrari and McLaren made huge strides with their car. Did Mercedes, which will only bring significant upgrades to Malaysia in two weeks, get a bit too comfortable courtesy of its early-season dominance?

"I don't think I am in the fight" - Russell. Antonelli's return to winning ways, first with an emotional and staggeringly crushing home victory in Monza and then a slightly more fortunate win in Madrid, has put those questions to bed. After 14 grands prix, Antonelli leads team-mate George Russell by 81 points, with Lewis Hamilton now falling behind triple digits (101) and Norris by 106.

It means Antonelli's biggest threat is now supposed to come from within, but while Russell has stepped up his form in recent weeks with driving style tweaks, it is clear the Briton has no real answer for Antonelli. And even if he were to match his younger team-mate, he is no longer even daring to dream of closing the 81-point deficit. "I'm not going to say it's over, but it's exceptionally unlikely that I'm in this fight," Russell conceded after only managing fifth at the Madring. "I'm not even thinking about being in the fight because I don't think I am in the fight." It almost just allows me to focus race by race and just try and win as many as possible. What will be, will be. That's where we are right now.