Andrea Kimi Antonelli is currently enjoying life at the top of the Formula 1 world championship standings, a reward that reflects the significant work he has put into refining his driving and understanding the complexities of modern F1. The Italian driver has focused heavily on studying both the regulations and his teammate, gradually learning how to master the counterintuitive characteristics of this generation of cars. At the same time, he has developed the ability to push at the right moments without taking unnecessary risks. Attention is now turning to a direct comparison with George Russell, who never seemed fully comfortable with the Mercedes package during the Japanese Grand Prix weekend.
Making the unnatural feel natural
Whether drivers like it or not, energy management has become a decisive factor in modern Formula 1. Many drivers have openly criticized this aspect, and Andrea Kimi Antonelli himself has not hidden his lack of enthusiasm. However, unlike several of his rivals, the Italian has accepted the situation and worked early on to adapt his driving style. As he explained: “Many things feel mechanical and unnatural, but if you manage to get into the rhythm, you can make the difference.”
For Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the winter break proved even more intense than the previous one, as he spent countless hours in the simulator relearning how to approach driving under the current regulations. He described his progress by saying: “The difference so far is that I’ve worked hard to make the unnatural feel more natural.”
This era of Formula 1 often goes against a driver’s instincts, forcing them to lift off the throttle and avoid pushing flat-out in order not to lose performance on the following straights. As several drivers, including Charles Leclerc, have discovered, attacking too aggressively in corners can be counterproductive. Getting back on the throttle too early or inducing wheelspin increases energy consumption and disrupts battery management software, ultimately costing more time on the straights than is gained in the corners.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli had already emphasized ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix how crucial precision is behind the wheel: “It’s very important that the driver inputs are consistent and precise, because that’s what makes the difference.” He also admitted that he made a mistake in qualifying in Australia when managing the throttle. In order to succeed in the 2026 Formula 1 season, drivers must adopt a driving style that can often feel frustrating, yet Andrea Kimi Antonelli appears to be mastering it effectively.
This progress was clearly visible at Suzuka, where over a single lap he managed energy more efficiently than his teammate George Russell, gaining an advantage on the straights. As he explained: “On my lap I gained about a tenth on the straights compared to him [Russell], but that was also due to a slightly different driving style.”
Qualifying approach
While energy management has become deeply intrusive in driving, extracting maximum performance still requires pushing the car to its limits. This is particularly true in corners where, according to FIA guidelines, throttle usage is less directly linked to battery deployment, allowing drivers to attack with fewer concerns about energy conservation.
In this area, Andrea Kimi Antonelli has made significant progress in his approach to race weekends. He now pushes harder already during free practice sessions to reduce uncertainties ahead of qualifying. The challenge lies in doing so without revealing too much of his potential or taking excessive risks, a mistake he made during the final practice session in Australia.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli has carefully studied George Russell’s approach, learning how to improve lap after lap by gradually raising the performance ceiling. He has understood that it is not necessary to push everywhere unconditionally, but rather to evaluate the balance between risk and reward. The Italian driver is learning to identify corners where the margin for error is higher and the potential gain is greater, while avoiding unnecessary risks in less rewarding sections of the track.
In both China and Japan, this approach allowed the Mercedes driver to improve consistently throughout qualifying. The next step will be to put everything together more frequently over an entire race weekend, particularly at the start. In Shanghai, during the Sprint, Andrea Kimi Antonelli lost ground due to a lack of turbo boost caused by a procedural error, while at Suzuka the opposite occurred, with a slow getaway triggered by rear wheelspin after his finger slipped off the clutch paddle.
Russell will come back – and not only him
As the season pauses, Andrea Kimi Antonelli can enjoy leading the championship, boosted by a renewed confidence in his abilities that only strong results can provide. At the same time, he remains fully aware that George Russell’s greater experience still makes the British driver a strong contender for the title, particularly given his advantage in certain areas. As Andrea Kimi Antonelli admitted after securing pole position at Suzuka: “George still makes a bit of a difference compared to me in high-speed corners.”
George Russell endured a difficult weekend in Japan, struggling with the balance of the Mercedes W17 throughout the event, particularly with oversteer that worsened after setup changes made following the third practice session. In China, by contrast, a technical issue compromised his preparation for the decisive qualifying lap, forcing him to settle for second place on the grid.
So far this season, there has yet to be a true head-to-head battle between the two Mercedes drivers at their full potential. In Australia, for example, Andrea Kimi Antonelli raced without the team being able to fully restore the car’s setup due to limited time after a crash in practice. Even so, he demonstrated strong race pace, increasing anticipation for a direct showdown between the two, potentially as early as the Miami Grand Prix.
However, it is still too early to suggest that the championship fight will be a private duel between the Mercedes drivers. With the ADUO system, ongoing development, and potential regulatory interventions from the FIA, rival teams will have opportunities to close the gap—particularly the reigning world champions. As Andrea Kimi Antonelli observed: “McLaren is still using the Barcelona aerodynamic package. I imagine the next one they bring will be a significant step.”
The papaya-colored car is also improving its ability to exploit the Mercedes power unit, to the extent that confidence is growing in Brackley that it could enter the fight between George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli in the medium term, further intensifying the battle at the front of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
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