Monza: Andrea Kimi Antonelli has gone from starting 19th on the grid to standing on top of the podium at Monza. Now, with a championship lead of 66 points, the 20 year old Mercedes driver is trying to do something that may be harder than winning a race: ignore the pressure of becoming champion.

Antonelli described his Italian Grand Prix victory as the best day of his life so far. Starting from 19th after an engine related grid penalty, he fought his way through the field before overtaking teammate George Russell late in the race to claim a remarkable home victory. He became the first Italian driver to win the Italian Grand Prix since 1966.

The victory also strengthened his position at the top of the championship. Antonelli now has seven wins this season, including five in succession, while Russell has two. Russell acknowledged that Antonelli is currently performing better and said he would need strong performances and some luck to close the gap.

Yet Antonelli is deliberately refusing to drive with the championship constantly on his mind.

He told reporters ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix that he did not want to approach practice, qualifying or races worrying about the title. For him, the Monza result was evidence that concentrating on winning rather than calculating championship points had worked.

That approach will now be tested at the new Madring circuit in Madrid, where Formula One is holding its first Spanish Grand Prix at the venue this weekend. The 5.416 kilometre circuit includes a distinctive banked section known as La Monumental, while much of the track remains unfamiliar to the drivers. Friday practice begins on September 11, followed by qualifying on Saturday and the race on Sunday.

The setting creates a different challenge from Monza. Antonelli arrives as the driver everyone is watching, but he insists that the championship can wait.

For now, the Italian appears to be choosing the simplest possible strategy: drive first, count the points later.