Mercedes’ 2026 season “looks promising”: with these words, Kimi Antonelli did not hide the fact that he feels ready to fight for the championship. The young Italian driver expressed clear optimism about Mercedes’ prospects for the upcoming Formula 1 season, which could represent a true turning point in his career. The Bologna-born driver finished his debut season in seventh place in the standings with 150 points, just six fewer than Lewis Hamilton.
Expectations for 2026 are extremely high, especially in light of the new technical regulations that will come into force and are expected to reshuffle the competitive order. Speaking during the Caschi d’Oro e Volanti ACI 2025 awards event, Kimi Antonelli shared his thoughts on what lies ahead for Mercedes and the grid as a whole.
“In the end, next year will be a huge opportunity for all of us as drivers because we will all be starting from zero. Nobody really knows what to expect from the cars,” Kimi Antonelli explained to Sky Sport F1. “Obviously I have done a lot of simulator work, but it is still too early to say how the car will feel the first time I go out on track.”
The Italian teenager then went on to underline his excitement about the development work already underway at Mercedes, highlighting both the chassis and power unit projects. “I can’t wait to start 2026 because I’ve also seen the car evolving in the wind tunnel and I went to see the engine project,” Kimi Antonelli said enthusiastically, before adding a note of caution. “Everything looks promising, but obviously you don’t know where the others are, and I think the real picture will only emerge at the first qualifying session in Melbourne.”
Kimi Antonelli did not hide the fact that he feels ready to fight for something more concrete next year, especially if the Mercedes power unit proves to be the benchmark under the new regulations. “I really can’t wait to start 2026 because it would be amazing to be able to fight for victories and potentially for the championship,” the young driver added.
The 19-year-old also touched on the possibility of one day racing for Scuderia Ferrari, at least in the future. Kimi Antonelli is currently the only Italian driver on the Formula 1 grid, and while he made it clear that he is very happy at Mercedes, he did not rule out that such a move could be considered in the coming years.
Fans will watch Antonelli’s progression closely. From karting prodigy to F1 rookie standout, his trajectory points toward stardom. With the countdown to pre-season testing underway, his excitement mirrors that of the entire paddock awaiting this bold new era.
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