Is Kimi Antonelli ready for the F1 championship? “No one should put this pressure on him”. David Croft warns against putting pressure on Kimi Antonelli after his first F1 win in China.

David Croft warns against pressure on Mercedes’ young star

Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft has cautioned that no one should put pressure on Andrea Kimi Antonelli in the 2026 Formula 1 championship fight. The Italian driver claimed his first career victory at the Chinese Grand Prix, bringing Italy back to the top step of the podium after twenty years, ahead of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.

After the first two races of the season, Kimi Antonelli sits just four points behind Russell, who currently leads the World Championship standings. David Croft stressed, however, that the young Italian should not be burdened with such high expectations. “I can’t believe you’re already putting pressure on Kimi Antonelli for the title,” Croft said.

Focus on consistency, not pressure

“No one should put this kind of pressure on him. Championships are won over the course of 22 races this year. Consistency is key. He’s competing against the only driver last year who finished every race. George is in peak form, but Antonelli will keep him under pressure all season. He has enormous speed and great talent, but he will also make mistakes.”

“We saw it last year, not just with Max Verstappen at his age, but also with Oscar Piastri compared to Lando Norris: the difference between a driver in his seventh season and one in his third is clear. He’s in the right team, Mercedes, which will help him grow. He has the right people around him.”

Taking it one race at a time

“There will be huge pressure for him to beat George race after race, but I don’t think it will happen immediately. If it does, then he’s even stronger than we think. For now, he just needs to focus on taking one race at a time.”

Kimi Antonelli’s arrival as a Grand Prix winner has undoubtedly shifted the 2026 title narrative, but David Croft’s perspective reminds us that the leap from a “race winner” to a “world champion” is a steep one. By comparing his journey to the early years of Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri, the Sky Sports commentator highlights that raw speed must eventually be paired with seasoned experience. Based on the content of the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix, the focus will likely remain on whether the Italian driver can repeat his Shanghai brilliance on one of the most technical tracks in the world.