Antonelli steps up his level in dramatic fashion

For Russell, this cannot be an easy moment in his career. A Mercedes protege himself, he has waited eight years for this moment - the best car, with Mercedes. Last year, he was comfortably the better driver of the two; only rarely did Antonelli get the better of him. So he earned his status as pre-season championship favourite. The Briton, 28, lived up to that when he won the first race of the season in Australia from pole position, but since then things have gone against him. …