Antonelli says he still has questions to answer

"Last twelvemonth I would uncertainty a batch myself, particularly during that hard play successful Europe," helium said.

"This twelvemonth it's a antithetic communicative and you mature a batch aft 1 twelvemonth successful F1 not lone arsenic a operator but besides arsenic a person.

"Last twelvemonth during the hard period, I got to cognize myself better. Considering however atrocious it was successful the moment, I americium precise grateful it happened due to the fact that it made maine turn a batch and taught maine a batch astir myself. This twelvemonth I haven't been questioning oregon doubting myself."

Antonelli finished past twelvemonth seventh successful the championship, 3 places and 169 points down Russell.

The Briton won 2 grands prix, portion Antonelli's champion effect was a azygous podium decorativeness successful 3rd spot successful the Canadian Grand Prix.

He outqualified Russell lone 5 times each season, and was 0.24 seconds slower connected average.

This year, Russell has suffered immoderate atrocious luck astatine assorted times - including with a pit halt that went incorrect and led to a punishment successful Monaco past weekend.

But helium acknowledged successful Monaco that helium was struggling to get the champion retired of the car.

Antonelli is 5-4 up successful the qualifying head-to-head astatine an mean vantage of 0.110secs.

He said: "A batch has changed. The twelvemonth of acquisition itself played a monolithic relation - making your ain experiences, knowing what is bully and not bully for you during the play and extracurricular the weekend.

"The experience, being capable to travel backmost into the play and having done it the twelvemonth earlier plays a monolithic difference. You cognize amended the way improvement and truthful connected and you are capable to equilibrium your energies successful a amended mode truthful you consciousness amended successful the car successful presumption of energy.

"You go much alert of your imaginable and you cognize amended the team, it's each small things that play a monolithic role."