Andrea Kimi Antonelli has revealed that almost an entire month of intensive simulator work at Mercedes’ Brackley headquarters played a decisive role in his 2026 Formula 1 World Championship triumph. The Italian driver explained that adapting to the new generation of F1 cars was far more difficult than his dominant performances suggested, with extensive winter preparation helping him master the technical changes before the season began.
Throughout his remarkable march towards the world title, Andrea Kimi Antonelli often made driving look effortless. The Mercedes driver undoubtedly had the best car of the season at his disposal, while the characteristics of the new generation of Formula 1 machinery also suited his driving style. However, that apparent natural compatibility concealed a demanding adaptation process, as the newly crowned champion revealed during a press conference in San Marino attended by GP-News.net.
Kimi Antonelli reveals month-long Mercedes simulator preparation
Contrary to what his performances might suggest, Andrea Kimi Antonelli did not immediately feel comfortable with the 2026 Formula 1 cars. The Italian admitted that he also had to make substantial adjustments to his driving style to understand the new technical regulations and extract the maximum performance from his Mercedes.
“I had to adapt a great deal myself,” Andrea Kimi Antonelli admitted. “I think the difference was the preparation we did before the season. This year’s car was very different, completely new in terms of chassis, aerodynamics and, above all, the power unit. It wasn’t easy at the beginning. It was very difficult for me too, because we had to adapt our driving style somewhat.”
To master the new driving techniques and understand what improvements he needed from Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli spent dozens of days at the team’s Brackley headquarters during the winter. The extensive simulator programme allowed him to study the characteristics of the 2026 machinery while providing valuable feedback to the engineers.
“For me, what made the difference this year was the preparation we did during pre-season, almost an entire month in England working on the simulator every day with the team,” the Italian explained.
“It made the difference in understanding this new generation of cars as quickly as possible, what needed to be done, what needed to be changed and also in giving the team some guidance on what I needed, and what we needed, to improve the car and the power unit. I think that made the difference because it prepared us extremely well. I have to say that we started the season incredibly well prepared, and that was a springboard for us to keep progressing and achieving results.”
That preparation laid the foundations for a campaign in which Andrea Kimi Antonelli secured his first Formula 1 World Championship, demonstrating how important the work completed before the opening race had been.
How Kimi Antonelli mastered the 2026 F1 energy management challenge
The time spent in the Mercedes simulator paid off, allowing Andrea Kimi Antonelli to adapt his driving style to the new regulations more quickly than many of his rivals. One of the biggest challenges was energy management, which was particularly demanding during the opening stages of the season.
The characteristics of the 2026 power units initially rewarded a smooth, consistent driving approach while penalising more aggressive techniques. Drivers had to resist the temptation to push too hard, adopting a counterintuitive style that required greater restraint than they had previously been accustomed to.
In particular, excessive throttle modulation could disrupt the battery management software, making it important to maintain a clean and controlled driving style. Rather than constantly seeking to extract maximum performance through aggressive inputs, drivers needed to understand how their actions affected the car’s energy deployment.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli had already hinted at the importance of his winter preparation following his victory in Japan. The Mercedes driver explained that the work completed before the season had helped him internalise the new driving techniques, making movements that still felt unnatural to many other drivers become instinctive.
His ability to adapt was one of the important factors behind his success, with the Italian subsequently completing a historic championship-winning campaign for Mercedes.
FIA regulation changes made 2026 F1 cars more natural to drive
The demands placed on Formula 1 drivers did not remain unchanged throughout the season. As the championship progressed, the FIA introduced adjustments to the regulations that simplified energy management, allowing driving techniques to become more traditional once again.
Mercedes also continued developing its car and power unit, further improving the driving experience for Andrea Kimi Antonelli as the season unfolded.
“They kept improving the car more and more, including the power unit,” Andrea Kimi Antonelli explained. “The FIA made some changes to help us, and driving became increasingly natural. Now you drive without thinking about anything else, you just try to go as fast as possible.”
These developments suggest that the demands facing Formula 1 drivers in 2027 could be considerably different from those experienced at the beginning of 2026. With energy management becoming less intrusive, the ability to adapt quickly to changing technical characteristics could once again prove decisive.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli has already demonstrated the value of that adaptability throughout his championship-winning season. His experience highlights how preparation, understanding of the car and the ability to adjust driving techniques can make a substantial difference even when a driver has highly competitive machinery at his disposal.
More news about Kimi Antonelli and Mercedes
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- Kimi Antonelli explains why he will not race with number 1 in 2027
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