Kimi Antonelli reacts to his 2026 Mercedes renewal
It’s finally announcement time at Mercedes. The Anglo-German team has confirmed the contract extensions of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli for the 2026 season, retaining the current driver lineup. While George Russell will enter his fifth year with Mercedes, this will be only Kimi Antonelli’s second season in Formula 1. After a year full of highs and lows, Mercedes has nevertheless decided to continue trusting the Italian driver. Toto Wolff sees him as a special talent, and it’s normal that he faced some challenges during his rookie season in F1.
Improvement after a tough European season
After a disappointing European campaign, which included abandoning a specific rear suspension specification, Kimi Antonelli improved his results. Although there had been rumors of a potential demotion to a Mercedes customer team, the young Italian has been confirmed for 2026, showing that the team still believes in his potential.
Antonelli’s special thanks and future goals
Following the announcement of his renewal, Kimi Antonelli expressed gratitude to those who never lost faith in him, especially Toto Wolff: “I would like to thank Toto and everyone at Brackley and Brixworth for their continued support and trust in me. I am really excited to continue with the team. I have learned so much during my first season in F1, through both the highs and the challenging moments. All of this has made me stronger, not just as a driver but also as a teammate.”
Kimi Antonelli also outlined his future objectives, both personal and for Mercedes: “Our goal now is to finish this year strong and secure second place in the Constructors’ Championship before fully focusing on 2026. We still have a lot to achieve in these final six races, and we will give our absolute best.”
If Mercedes confirms, according to various rumors, as the team to beat in 2026, we could see an Italian driver competing for the world championship or at least fighting for top positions in the standings.
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