Kimi Antonelli's support system crucial to F1 title fight, says David Coulthard

As Kimi Antonelli leads the Formula 1 drivers' championship, David Coulthard has spoken about the importance of the Italian driver's support system. 

The former driver believes that those closest to Antonelli will be crucial in keeping him "undistracted" as he fights for his first championship title.

Antonelli has surprised the paddock with an incredible start to the season. While it was his team-mate George Russell who claimed the first grand prix and sprint race win of the year, Antonelli has since won the Chinese, Japanese and Miami Grands Prix. 

As he became the youngest leader of the drivers' championship, many thought the pressure could become too much for the 19-year-old. But after his win in Miami extended his lead in the standings to 20 points over Russell, he looks to be coping just fine so far.

"Well, it's all new and exciting to them right now, but they will soon get fed up of people coming to the door," Coulthard explained of the attention that Antonelli is getting during an episode of the Up To Speed podcast.

"We saw it at the beginning of Charles Leclerc's career when the success started to come. He was having people ring his doorbell in Monaco because it's a small place and there's nothing to stop someone ringing a doorbell."

Marco Antonelli, father of Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Photo by: Kym Illman / Getty Images

He added: "They will be dealing with all of this change, all of this expectation, and how Toto [Wolff] manages that, how Kimi's father and mother manage that will determine, let's say, how they can help support Kimi to be what he is right now, which is an undistracted racing driver."

Antonelli now looks ahead to the fifth round of the season. The Canadian Grand Prix will take place at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, a track that Russell has had success at previously, from 22-24 May.