public opinion. In a RacingNews365 poll asking readers who is the
better Mercedes driver, the 19-year-old Italian commanded a
resounding 68% of the vote, leaving George Russell trailing on 32%.
Seven races into the 2026 season, it is difficult to argue with the
majority. Antonelli leads the Drivers’ Championship on 156 points,
a full 50 clear of Russell in third, having taken five victories in
China, Japan, Miami, Canada and Monaco. Russell, by contrast, has
a single win to his name from the season opener in Melbourne. The
numbers paint a stark picture of dominance from a teenager still in
just his second campaign, but Russell himself has played down any
internal rivalry. In May, the Briton insisted that Antonelli’s
championship lead is “not even a consideration” for him, while
acknowledging that the W17 currently suits his team-mate’s driving
style more naturally. Whether that gap narrows as Mercedes continue
to develop the car remains to be seen, but for now, the readers
have spoken, and they have spoken emphatically. Antonelli is the
man of the moment at Brackley. Check out the full poll results
below! Who is the better Mercedes driver?