Antonelli and the world championship dream: “The new regulations are an opportunity”
For Italian Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, 2026 marks his second official season in Formula 1. The 2025 season was far from easy for the Bologna-born talent, who had to adapt to completely new cars and face the intense pressure from media and fans. Speaking to Sky Sport F1 about the start of the new season and the potential to fight for the world championship under the new regulations, Antonelli said: “This year I’m definitely more prepared. I know what to expect from each race weekend and the calendar itself. I’m very focused on the goal, very motivated, and especially with the new regulations, this is a huge opportunity for me, for the team, and for all of us. I can’t wait for the Melbourne Grand Prix.”
Antonelli: “Happy to have overcome the tough moments in my first F1 year”
“Last year I experienced a lot, with many emotions and challenges. There was a difficult period, which was really tough at the time, but I’m also glad it happened in my first year in Formula 1. Having a mental coach helped me a lot, especially in learning to never give up and always find solutions. Over the winter we worked a lot together and reflected on the past season.”
The toughest moments came during the European tour, where Kimi Antonelli struggled to perform as he wanted. Yet this is part of the growth process; making a debut in Formula 1 at eighteen on a Mercedes car is no small challenge. As the 2026 season begins, Brackley is considered one of the top contenders for the world title, giving Kimi a real opportunity, even with teammate George Russell and the potential rivalry that could arise.
“There’s a lot of respect between George and me, and even if we end up fighting for the championship, we’ll maintain a good dynamic within the team. That’s important to help improve the car and develop it in the right direction. Off the track, we’re friends, but once the visor is down, it’s all about focusing on winning. You can’t do favors for anyone; on track, the only goal is to beat everyone. With the team, you also try to lead, make your voice heard, and push where needed.”
On the new cars: “It changes how you approach a race”
Kimi Antonelli described the new 2026 cars as “fun to drive. A bit lighter, more agile, more like a proper race car, with slightly less downforce but very enjoyable in fast corners. We’re at the start of the regulation era, so car evolution will be huge this year in terms of performance. You’ll have more to think about, especially managing battery, boost, and overtake modes. It will test your instincts more, but overall, as a starting point, the car gives very good sensations.”
On competitors, Kimi Antonelli remained diplomatic: “Ferrari did well in the early tests. McLaren had some issues but performed decently. Red Bull impressed a lot, especially with their first engine production. I won’t add more about performance comparisons.”
Finally, Kimi Antonelli spoke about his dream of becoming a world champion and a role model for Italy: “It would be amazing to achieve even a fraction of what Valentino Rossi did, but my idol is Ayrton Senna, and reaching even part of what these great champions achieved would be a dream. The road is long and difficult, it will require a lot of work, but I’ll give my best to fight for victories and, eventually, the world championship.”
Kimi Antonelli therefore enters the 2026 season with a renewed sense of confidence and a deeper understanding of the mental demands of F1, viewing the radical new technical regulations as a prime opportunity to challenge for the world title alongside teammate George Russell while aiming to emulate the success of his idols like Ayrton Senna and Valentino Rossi.
Leave a Reply