Kimi Antonelli set for growth: Mercedes predicts peak in three to five years. Mercedes plans for Antonelli’s development ahead of 2026 F1 season.

Kimi Antonelli had an impressive debut season, claiming three podiums and finishing in the top 10 on fourteen occasions. He experienced a setback during the European rounds, which Antonelli explained was due to an update introduced at Imola that caused him to lose confidence in both the car and himself.

The car was then restored to optimal conditions, and Kimi once again collected many points, even achieving second place in Brazil, marking his best result of the season.

There is, of course, a significant gap compared to his teammate George Russell, who scored 169 points more than the Italian. However, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff admitted that everything is going according to plan.

Toto Wolff sets the timeline

“When do we expect him to reach his peak? In three to five years. That’s the timeframe we need to give him,” Wolff said on the Beyond the Grid podcast.

“I think he already knows a lot about this sport, because it’s what he lives and breathes every day. But there’s a human component: as a young driver, you need to mature as a person, learn to manage the dynamics and pressures of this environment,” the team principal continued.

“That said, there’s no doubt he’s heading in the right direction,” Wolff concluded.

Looking ahead to 2026: was this season useful?

The 2026 Formula 1 season will bring crucial regulatory changes. Mercedes could have chosen to bring Antonelli in full-time next year, but the team believes this season has been extremely valuable for his development.

“From what we’ve seen in the simulators, driving next season will be very different. There’s so much to absorb, many new elements to face. That’s why I think it would be extremely difficult for someone to handle all of this in their first year,” explained the Mercedes motorsport head.

“So I’m glad he raced this year, that he already knows the team and is part of it. He’s spent a lot of time at Brixworth, where the Mercedes power unit department is based. We’ve reviewed all the upcoming technical changes together, and he’s contributing,” he concluded.