Andrea Kimi Antonelli admits Ferrari are becoming a serious championship danger. Andrea Kimi Antonelli fears Ferrari resurgence after Lewis Hamilton’s strong run.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli remains championship leader

Retiring just a few laps from the finish in Barcelona while running in second place – after successfully overtaking George Russell – was a painful blow for Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

“I’m empty,” the Italian admitted to reporters after the disappointing result, which came at the end of a race spent fighting back through the field. The setback was made even harder by the fact that he had not been at his physical best throughout the weekend due to illness.

A battery failure abruptly ended what had been a strong recovery drive and cost Andrea Kimi Antonelli 18 potentially crucial championship points. As a result, his closest rivals were able to reduce the gap in the standings. Lewis Hamilton took full advantage by claiming victory and cutting the deficit to 41 points, while George Russell now sits 50 points behind the championship leader. Although those margins remain significant, they are not large enough to allow Andrea Kimi Antonelli to feel completely comfortable at the top of the standings.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli concerned by Ferrari’s resurgence

Following a series of impressive performances from Lewis Hamilton, including second-place finishes in Monaco and Montreal before his victory in Barcelona, Andrea Kimi Antonelli believes Ferrari have firmly re-entered the championship conversation.

The Scuderia’s resurgence could complicate Mercedes’ plans for the remainder of the season, both in the fight against Ferrari and potentially within the team’s own internal dynamics.

Speaking to Sky Sports UK, Andrea Kimi Antonelli acknowledged the growing threat posed by the Maranello-based team: “They can certainly fight for the title. Ferrari are very reliable, but they are also very fast. We have to make the most of every opportunity that comes our way and then try to do our absolute best. It won’t be a walk in the park,” Antonelli said.

With Ferrari appearing increasingly competitive and Lewis Hamilton enjoying his strongest run since joining the Scuderia, the Formula 1 championship battle is shaping up to become even more intense as the season heads towards its next crucial phase.