Jenson Button believes Kimi Antonelli’s ability to approach Formula 1 with remarkable calm could prove crucial in the 2026 title fight. Despite the enormous mental demands of the championship, the 2009 world champion says the young Mercedes driver appears to manage pressure with far less stress than his rivals.
Jenson Button knows plenty about unpredictable championships, internal team battles and high-profile team-mates. “Let’s just say I have had some practice,” admitted the former British driver, who won the Formula 1 world title with Brawn GP in 2009. Now an Aston Martin ambassador and television commentator, he is well placed to assess which drivers can genuinely fight for this year’s championship.
Jenson Button believes Lewis Hamilton can fight for an eighth title
Asked whether his friend and former McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton could win an eighth world championship, Jenson Button insisted the British driver should never be discounted.
“If there is one driver who has taught us that anything is possible, it is Lewis Hamilton. I was very surprised to see him struggling in 2025 because I found it difficult to recognise him. I watched him closely for a long time, both as a rival and for three years as a team-mate, and I know what he is capable of,” Jenson Button explained.
“When I saw him begin this season, I realised that the Lewis Hamilton we all knew was back, and I think he has finally managed to find his voice within the team. That is not easy alongside Charles Leclerc, who knows Ferrari perfectly and has been there for many years.”
Lewis Hamilton’s renewed challenge suffered another setback at the Hungarian Grand Prix, although the seven-time world champion maintained that Ferrari should have won in Hungary.
Kimi Antonelli handles F1 title pressure differently
Turning to Mercedes title contenders George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, Jenson Button identified experience as the major advantage on George Russell’s side. However, he also believes that experience brings greater expectations and leaves the British driver with fewer excuses.
“George Russell certainly has experience on his side, which helps when managing the emotions of such a long championship. However, he will also have to cope with greater pressure because he has been in Formula 1 for longer and has no excuses. An opportunity like this often comes only once in a lifetime, and you cannot afford not to take advantage of it,” Jenson Button said.
“Kimi Antonelli, by contrast, seems to be experiencing what is happening to him with much less stress, despite his age. That is something I have noticed first-hand.”
The young Italian reinforced his championship position by securing a Hungarian Grand Prix podium from seventh on the grid, while the latest gaps between the leading contenders can be followed in the 2026 Formula 1 driver standings.
The Monaco moment that revealed Kimi Antonelli’s secret
Jenson Button explained that Kimi Antonelli has developed his own distinctive way of experiencing Formula 1. Although the Mercedes driver is highly emotional, he can also remain extraordinarily relaxed during some of the most intense moments of a Grand Prix weekend.
“Kimi Antonelli has a completely individual way of experiencing this sport. He is a very emotional person but, at the same time, incredibly relaxed. We were staying at the same hotel in Monaco. You would meet him in the morning and he would greet you with the calmness of someone going to play football with his friends, not someone about to take part in qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix,” Jenson Button recalled.
“You grow up very quickly in Formula 1, and it is an extremely demanding sport mentally, especially when you have the pressure of fighting for the title on your shoulders. However, I believe he has found the environment in which he can make everything work.”
Jenson Button explains what keeps Fernando Alonso motivated
Another driver Jenson Button knows particularly well is Fernando Alonso, who continues to compete against drivers as young as 18 at the age of 45. According to the 2009 champion, the Spaniard’s hunger comes from a lifelong dedication to racing that goes far beyond an ordinary enthusiasm for motorsport.
“Fernando Alonso has always been like this. He lives to race, whether it is Formula 1, a kart or anything else. Motorsport genuinely runs through his veins. I love cars and racing too, but he is on another level, and I have enormous respect for him because of that,” Jenson Button said.
“He embraced the challenge with Aston Martin, which did not begin in the best possible way, but I am certain that, with a little patience, he will return to fighting where he deserves to be.”
Aston Martin praised for calm response to difficult start
Aston Martin made an important step forward with its upgrades in Budapest, even if the extensively revised AMR26 B-spec did not immediately transform its Hungarian Grand Prix weekend. Having observed the operation closely in his ambassadorial role, Jenson Button believes the team is responding constructively to its challenging start to 2026.
“Since becoming an ambassador, I have been fortunate enough to see the work of this team at close quarters, and I think they are reacting well to the difficult start they have had this year,” Jenson Button explained.
“The fundamental thing when you find yourself in these situations is not to overreact, because projects of this kind require time and the support of the entire team. They want to reach the point where they can win, and I am certain they will succeed.”
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