It is an open and honest Kimi Antonelli who spoke to Mototorsport.com. The young driver from Bologna described his debut season with Mercedes as a journey that can be divided into three very different phases, marked by moments of learning, difficult periods and key breakthroughs. The high point, however, came in Las Vegas, “when I felt something unique: I was doing everything automatically, without thinking. I need to let instinct guide me more”.
More than a matter of points scored and championship positions, the real objective of Kimi Antonelli’s first Formula 1 season was to convince the top management at Mercedes that they had made the right choice. Back in September 2024, Toto Wolff had been very clear about Antonelli’s promotion, stating: “We are aware that he will have to face many difficulties”. Formula 1, however, follows its own rules, and by mid-season direct comparisons with George Russell began, pushing aside the cautious expectations that had surrounded the debut.
A reaction was needed, and Antonelli delivered. Strong performances and solid results arrived, bringing calm within the team and, above all, restoring confidence for Kimi himself. The challenge was demanding, not only in terms of driving performance but also because of a complete change in lifestyle. One year later, Antonelli appears stronger, with the difficulties he faced now turned into valuable experiences, approached with optimism ahead of the highly anticipated 2026 season.
How different is the Kimi Antonelli of Melbourne compared to the one who has just completed his first Formula 1 season?
“Very different. I can say I’ve changed a lot. When I think back to Melbourne now, I remember how tense I was in the car. Today it’s a completely different situation. I’ve grown a lot mentally and I feel that I’ve gone through a process that has made me more mature in every aspect.”
You had to overcome many obstacles during a 24-race season spread over ten months. There were very different phases. How would you divide them?
“There was an initial phase, which I would describe as positive, from Melbourne to the Canadian Grand Prix. It was a period of intense learning, where I had to familiarise myself with the world of Formula 1 and live through many new experiences, far more than I had imagined before the season started. After Montreal, a difficult period began, a phase in which I didn’t see the progress I was expecting. That also affected my morale, and mentally it was tough.
“Then, starting from Baku, the season returned to what I wanted it to be. Now I can say that being able to overcome a difficult moment gave me an extra boost mentally. Putting very hard months behind me was not a given. It was a tough test, but also a useful one.”
What changed after the Monza weekend?
“The return to the old rear suspension, which already happened from the Zandvoort weekend, helped me a lot, but the real turning point was a mental reset. I went back to focusing on the objective and on the basics: driving well and doing the right things every time I got in the car, just like before getting into the car.
“During the difficult period I had lost a bit of direction. There was a lot of frustration and I started thinking too much about the final result. Every time I got in the car I put a lot of pressure on myself and I didn’t focus on driving well, on doing the right things, on improving corner by corner. All of that made me more tense and the results kept not coming. After Monza there was a meeting between me, Toto and Bono (Peter Bonnington, Kimi Antonelli’s race engineer), and after that meeting I told myself that I needed to reset and start again from zero.”
What was that meeting like?
“They told me directly what they thought about my performances, especially about Monza. But it was constructive criticism, which I took in a positive way, and it helped me reset and find that necessary aggressiveness to say: ‘ok, now things will change’. And they did change.”
Over the course of the season you experienced the excitement of your first Formula 1 podium, but also the pressure of criticism when things didn’t go well…
“During the difficult period there were a lot of rumours. I was already going through a complicated moment, and receiving external pressure as well, such as speculation about my future, certainly didn’t help. I knew I had a long-term contract, but certain rumours still give you a lot to think about. These are mentally tough moments, something you carry with you even when you get in the car. Growing up also means learning how to live with these aspects, and after one year I can say I’ve gained experience. I know there will be more obstacles ahead, but compared to a year ago, today I have a clearer vision of what awaits me.”
The best moment of the season?
“It’s difficult to choose just one. There were many great moments: the first race in Melbourne, the first pole position in Miami, the first podium in Canada, as well as the weekend in Brazil. But I believe that the best moment is still to come.”
And the worst?
“The Spa weekend. I arrived in Belgium right in the middle of my negative phase, and that weekend was a real blow.”
When did you start to truly feel in control of the car?
“In Japan, during the second stint of the race, I felt really good. Then in Canada, I had the McLarens putting pressure on me from behind and I knew I couldn’t afford any mistakes if I wanted to fight for the podium. I felt something similar in Brazil as well, especially when Max appeared in my mirrors, and then in Las Vegas…”
What happened in Las Vegas?
“For the first time I felt something unique. I had to fight back after a disappointing qualifying session, and the only way to do that was with a very long stint. I found the rhythm and started to feel like I was in a tunnel: I was doing everything automatically, without thinking too much. It was like switching on autopilot. I was driving without really being aware of every single action, everything came naturally, automatically. I remember that while I was experiencing that very special feeling, hearing Bono’s radio messages almost bothered me, because they brought me back to reality. They were obviously useful pieces of information, but they pulled me out of that tunnel. It was an incredible sensation, driving purely on instinct.”
What advice would you give today to the Kimi Antonelli who is about to start the Melbourne weekend?
“Trust your instinct more, trust your abilities and the qualities that allowed you to earn this opportunity. Every time you get in the car, make sure you have a ‘killer’ mindset, and when you’re on track, face every difficulty head-on.”
Would you also tell him to stop looking at social media?
“I would tell him not to care too much about what is said on social media. There will always be someone criticising you, just as there are many people supporting you. I’m lucky to have many supporters, but there will always be those who try to bring you down and hurt you. I would tell him not to give too much weight to these aspects. The constructive criticism that really matters is the one that comes from people you trust and who are close to you. That’s the feedback that truly helps you improve.”
During qualifying, did you ever look at George’s lap time on the screen and think: ‘How does he do that?’
“Yes, and I have no problem admitting that it happened many times. The 2025 generation of cars is not easy to interpret, and the same goes for the tyres. In some cases the limit was so high that I finished a qualifying lap with the feeling that I had done a good job. Then, by looking at George’s telemetry, I realised that you could push much harder.”
There is often talk about how crucial the out-lap is before a qualifying lap. Is it really that important?
“Yes, it’s a fundamental phase, but just as important is how you use the tyre during the flying lap. The tyre generation we used this year is very sensitive. You need to know in advance what to do in every situation. Sometimes if you slide the tyre, you ruin everything, while in other cases it’s essential.
“I’ll use Las Vegas qualifying as an example. On that track, and in those very cold conditions, sliding the tyre on corner entry gave you more grip, because the temperatures were so low that the tyres needed extra help to stay in the correct window. If you slide the tyre during a qualifying lap in Singapore, on the other hand, you lose traction completely and arrive at the final corners with no control. All these aspects are part of a driver’s experience, something you build race after race.”
In that sense, was having Russell as a team-mate a help?
“Absolutely. There were occasions where, thanks to the comparison with George, I understood that I was pushing too much or not enough. I genuinely believe he is one of the strongest drivers on the grid, and he has shown that many times. He had a great season, and that helped me a lot to understand where the difference can be made, for example in tyre usage. It pushed me to raise my own level. I really enjoyed working alongside him, and in general there is a good dynamic within the team, a healthy competition.”
You’ve completed your first world championship. Is life in Formula 1 how you imagined it before your debut?
“I had formed an idea by working with the team during the 2024 tests and starting my first marketing activities. But even though I was prepared, the impact was still there and at times I struggled a bit. You have to learn how to manage your energy and find the rhythm that works best for your body and mind. Dealing with so many activities drains physical energy but, above all, mental energy. That’s why managing yourself in the best possible way becomes crucial. If you get in the car and you’re not at one hundred percent, performance suffers, there’s no way around it. Looking back, some aspects I had understood in advance, while others required me to readapt by changing the way I approached them.”
Can you confirm that the pressure in Formula 1 is different from what you imagined before your debut?
“In my case there was the pressure of the debut combined with the pressure of racing for a team like Mercedes, which is a top team in the championship. You represent a huge brand. In the Formula 1 programme alone there are 2,000 people working towards a single goal: winning. So yes, you feel the pressure. You know you have to perform because you represent a group of people, and you feel a responsibility to repay all the work the team does to give you the best possible car. Then there is the media pressure, and also the pressure you sometimes put on yourself before getting in the car, that moment of tension, of fear, of being afraid of making a mistake.”
Was there a moment when the weight of responsibility affected you?
“Not in a worrying way. After a good start to the season, during the European phase I scored only one point for the Constructors’ Championship. At that moment I told myself that I needed to find myself again, because the team also needed my contribution. In the end it worked out well, and second place was secured.”
Have you learned to shield yourself from public and media pressure by saying ‘no’ more often?
“Not completely. I’m starting to do it, but I admit that sometimes I still struggle and feel a bit guilty. However, I’ve understood that the priority is to perform at your maximum every time you’re on track. To do that, you need to be at one hundred percent physically and mentally. With the gaps we saw this year, every small mistake had huge consequences. As a driver, you also need to know when it’s necessary to say ‘no’. It’s something I’m still learning, but I’ve realised how important it is. It’s part of growing up.”
During the few free weekends you had, you still spent some time in paddocks, even MotoGP paddocks. Are those days still under pressure, or do you manage to enjoy them as downtime?
“I’ll keep doing it, because it’s something I genuinely enjoy. I’m happy when I’m on track with a kart, with radio-controlled cars, or when I go to watch a MotoGP weekend. I have a lot of friends there and I’m a fan. Even if it would be nice to walk around the paddock in total peace, I don’t give it too much thought. I move from Aprilia friends to Ducati, from Yamaha to others, and I like to say hello to everyone I know. Then there are Sundays when I just want to stay at home on my simulator. It always depends on the moment. I believe it’s important to do things you enjoy and that make you feel good. It helps me clear my mind.”
We are on the eve of an epochal change for Formula 1. What do you expect?
“I’m very motivated and I believe it will be a huge opportunity for the teams and for us drivers. I hope to have a good car at my disposal. I have great trust in the team. My dream is to fight for wins and be in a championship position that offers a title opportunity. If I have a competitive car, it will be up to me to make the difference. I truly hope to be in that scenario. Simulator work will be extremely important, and whoever manages to find the right direction before the others will have a big advantage.”
Based on your tests, do you think you’ll have to change your driving style?
“We’ll all be starting from zero, and that’s something that really motivates me. If you manage to understand something before the others, you can really make a difference, even through small details. I’ve tested the car in the simulator and it will require a slightly different driving style. It will be a middle ground between this year’s car and the one from the previous technical cycle. So it will require some adaptation in terms of driving style and power unit management, but it’s all very exciting. Soon I’ll switch off for a bit, I want to rest and calmly reflect on the season that has just ended. At the same time, I can’t wait to start preparing for 2026. A great season awaits me.”
In this candid exclusive, Kimi Antonelli reveals how his rookie 2025 season at Mercedes forged him through learning curves, mental challenges, and breakthrough moments, leaving him stronger and eagerly anticipating the game-changing 2026 regulations.
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