Kimi Antonelli wants to be ready for a world championship fight in which the driver can make a real difference, but he does not rule out Ferrari as a contender. The Italian driver sees the challenge of competing against a strong Mercedes as a great opportunity and believes that having the best car is not a guarantee of success. With the new regulations, driver input can truly influence the outcome, as Antonelli explained to the Italian press in the Shanghai paddock, including GP-News.net.
The strength of Mercedes
Antonelli is calm as he prepares for the Chinese Grand Prix, aware of the competitiveness of his W17 while keeping his feet on the ground: “Where we were strong in Melbourne was especially in qualifying, optimizing energy deployment. In the race, Ferrari was also strong with battery usage, performing well in areas where we were too, so even George struggled. In qualifying, even though the wind changed and therefore the approach to corners and energy usage shifted, we managed to find the right compromise that gave us an advantage.”
The Bolognese driver explains why the balance of power can change significantly from Saturday to Sunday this year: “In qualifying, you push harder and get on the power earlier, which makes it more demanding on the battery. We had to introduce lift and coast as the laps became faster. These are all things we practiced in the simulator before the race, which helped us be ready for changing conditions. On Saturday, you also have to adjust battery usage depending on track conditions. I think that helped us make such a difference in qualifying. The car, in terms of chassis, is strong in corners, and how you take them affects battery usage. I believe it’s a combination of factors.”
Watch out for Ferrari
The paddock and timing screens unanimously recognize Mercedes as the best car currently, but Antonelli warns not to underestimate the competition: “Having a car like this is a huge opportunity. But I have to say it won’t be easy with Ferrari. They are pushing hard too, the car is good, and they are certainly the second-strongest team. They could be contenders for the title, and this weekend they bring the Macarena wing, which worked before and could help them. Their car is strong, and we can’t exclude them from the fight.”
The championship will also be decided by updates: “Development throughout the season will be crucial. Last year we were at the end of the regulations, so finding gains in the wind tunnel was harder, and the power unit was very standard. This year, incredible gains can be found both in the wind tunnel and with the power unit. Whoever develops better will make the difference. Yes, I think we have an advantage, but we must be careful, because things can change quickly. One misstep and you end up behind.”
The dream of the title
It is still unclear how the balance of power will evolve over the season, but Mercedes currently has an advantage over its rivals. This puts Antonelli in the position of fighting for the championship: “I’ll try to be ready. Opportunities like this don’t come every day, so it’s important to seize them, being prepared for every occasion. Surely there will be scenarios where I still need experience, but I’ll try to be ready.”
Antonelli admits he still has much to learn, even if he has matured significantly compared to twelve months ago: “I’ve changed a lot, and my approach to race weekends is very different. Last weekend I was more relaxed and enjoyed it more. Last year helped me grow and understand how to approach the weekends, how to manage my energy… it was an incredible learning experience.”
“It helped me a lot in the first weekend, which was full of ups and downs, but last year’s experiences helped me stay calm and focused. After FP3, I thought my weekend was over, but I was lucky to return to the track. In qualifying, instead of being nervous or tense, I focused on doing the best with what I had, even though the car had no setup, but I stayed calm.”
Challenges of the new regulations
Even with the best car, Antonelli believes the FIA will need to intervene to address some issues with the new cars, without making hasty decisions: “We are at the start of a regulation that has changed in many aspects, so it will improve with evolution, including the power unit and software. The FIA is implementing changes based on our feedback, and some tracks will definitely need adjustments. A circuit like Shanghai works well with the current rules because energy management is simpler, but other tracks will require modifications. The FIA is open to feedback and is considering all comments to find a proper solution. It can improve things, but also worsen them. It has to be carefully considered because it’s easy to end up at the extreme opposite.”
One hot topic is the start, which was chaotic in Melbourne: “Simulations didn’t predict the formation lap correctly, where battery usage was very different from reality. This year, warming the tires is harder, with less downforce, and you need to put in more energy during the first lap to heat them. This means you push harder on the formation lap and use more battery. They are working on it, but I don’t think it will be fully fixed this weekend. Having a Sprint race, however, helps us practice the formation lap and prepare for Sunday.”
The importance of the driver
Kimi’s observation skills are one of his key qualities. His reflections on regulation changes show he is not as critical as some colleagues: “I don’t complain too much. There are aspects that may not be ideal, but it’s the same for everyone. Personally, it’s important to do the best with what you have. Many things are complex and unnatural, but if you master them, you can make a difference.”
“In Melbourne, in qualifying, compared to George, I got on the power incorrectly in a corner, which confused the system and cost me speed on the following straights. It’s very important that driver inputs are consistent and precise because that makes the difference. There are aspects that still need improvement, but that’s the case for everyone,” Antonelli concluded.
As the grid prepares for the first Sprint of 2026, Antonelli’s focus on the “driver’s input” highlights the digital chess match defining this season. While the Mercedes W17 provides the platform, the young Italian knows that perfection in Shanghai—especially during the formation lap energy management—will be the key to keeping Ferrari and the “Macarena” wing at bay. The championship isn’t just a race of engines; it’s a race of precision. If Kimi can maintain his newfound calm, the “Year of the Horse” might just find itself chasing a Silver Arrow all the way to the finish line.
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