Kimi Antonelli could become Formula 1 world champion at just 20 years old during Sunday’s United States Grand Prix in Austin, but the Mercedes driver is determined not to let the possibility dominate his thoughts. His approach, inspired partly by tennis legend Roger Federer, has attracted the attention of sports psychologist Riccardo Pazzona, who believes that focusing on the present rather than the championship outcome offers the Italian his strongest psychological foundation for success.
“It’s crazy, and that’s why I’m not going to think about it,” Kimi Antonelli has repeatedly said about the prospect of winning the world championship. At first glance, such an attitude might seem almost carefree, perhaps even reckless. According to Riccardo Pazzona, however, the opposite is true: concentrating on enjoyment, preparation and the immediate task can be an effective way to manage the enormous psychological demands of competing for a Formula 1 title.
In an interview with Fanpage.it, the sports psychologist explained what happens mentally when a 20-year-old driver competes at speeds approaching 300 km/h with a world championship at stake. He discussed why wanting to enjoy the experience does not necessarily mean avoiding pressure, how difficult experiences can become opportunities for growth and why mental tension can prevent even a highly talented driver from performing at their best.
Why Kimi Antonelli’s approach to F1 title pressure makes psychological sense
Asked whether Kimi Antonelli’s determination not to think about the championship, together with Mercedes’ encouragement to enjoy the occasion, represents effective pressure management or an attempt to ignore reality, Riccardo Pazzona explained that the decisive factor is how an individual interprets pressure.
“Everyone has their own way of experiencing situations. Right now, the pressure is there, and there’s no point denying it. The difference isn’t between those who experience it and those who don’t. The difference lies in the relationship you build with it.”
“You can interpret it as a threat, or you can recognise it as a signal, take it into the car with you and activate effective strategies to go out on track and score points. The strategy Kimi has identified will be suited to his way of experiencing these kinds of situations.”
For Riccardo Pazzona, the important distinction is therefore not whether Kimi Antonelli feels pressure, but whether he can use it constructively rather than allowing it to interfere with his performance.
Why Kimi Antonelli must concentrate on performance rather than winning the title
Kimi Antonelli has repeatedly explained that if he does everything correctly, the result should follow. However, that philosophy also raises an important question: what happens if the desired result does not arrive at Austin, despite all the preparation and effort invested in reaching this point?
Riccardo Pazzona believes the answer lies in remaining focused on the task rather than becoming emotionally attached to an outcome that can never be completely guaranteed.
“The focus has to remain on the task. When someone says, ‘If I concentrate and do what I have to do well, I’m more likely to succeed,’ they’re saying something correct. There’s never any certainty. But it’s the only solution for reaching important goals.”
“Remaining focused on the task means doing what is within our control, to the best of our ability. And if something goes wrong, you still have concrete elements to reflect on. If, instead, you leave room for emotions, they take over. They affect decisions, choices and ultimately the result.”
The psychologist’s assessment places particular importance on the distinction between controllable actions and external outcomes. Kimi Antonelli can influence his preparation, concentration and driving, but the final championship result will also depend on circumstances beyond his direct control.
How Kimi Antonelli transformed the pressure that overwhelmed him in 2025
The contrast with Kimi Antonelli’s first Formula 1 season is striking. During 2025, the Italian acknowledged that pressure had overwhelmed him, particularly because he feared disappointing Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff and the organisation that had placed so much faith in his potential.
Riccardo Pazzona explained that such experiences can eventually become valuable opportunities for psychological development, provided the individual learns to reinterpret them constructively.
“What often happens is that you evolve. You give situations a new meaning. A situation that was initially painful can be reconsidered in a constructive way and understood as a learning opportunity.”
“From there, you work on making sure that situations which generate stress don’t become a problem, but a resource. That’s how you prepare for days like the one Kimi is about to experience.”
That perspective helps explain why Kimi Antonelli’s growing maturity has become such an important part of his championship challenge. The Italian has already demonstrated remarkable progress during his second Formula 1 season, with his championship mentality emerging as a central theme of his success.
Taking a step back can help Kimi Antonelli move forward
Kimi Antonelli has also spoken about taking a step back mentally to enjoy the process rather than becoming consumed by the significance of the world championship. But can a driver afford to adopt that approach when he is potentially one race away from achieving the biggest objective of his career?
Riccardo Pazzona believes that creating psychological distance from the outcome can actually improve performance.
“Absolutely. Sometimes someone who takes a step back is actually one step ahead. When you’re too immersed in situations, you risk becoming affected by emotions and expectations that turn dysfunctional. Taking a step back can be a very effective strategy.”
Rather than reflecting a lack of ambition, this approach can allow an athlete to concentrate more effectively on the practical demands of competition.
What it really means for Kimi Antonelli to embrace pressure
Another important part of Kimi Antonelli’s development has been his willingness to embrace pressure instead of treating it as something that must always be avoided.
Riccardo Pazzona explained that pressure is universal in elite sport, but the way an athlete interprets it can substantially change its impact on performance.
“Pressure affects everyone. It’s the way we approach it that makes the difference. Seeing it as a problem is an issue in high-level sport. It inevitably affects your performance.”
“Seeing it as an opportunity, as a resource, allows you to grow and gives you that extra boost. There are people who perform better under pressure. It’s an aspect that we sports psychologists work on a great deal. Pressure is always present; you have to learn to accept it as a team-mate.”
In that context, embracing pressure does not mean pretending that the stakes are insignificant. Instead, it involves recognising the challenge and finding a way to turn the additional emotional intensity into something constructive.
Why Kimi Antonelli believes he has nothing to prove at Mercedes
One of Kimi Antonelli’s most notable recent comments is that he does not need to prove anything compared with last season. Coming from a 20-year-old driver rather than an established seven-time world champion such as Lewis Hamilton, that attitude might appear risky.
Riccardo Pazzona, however, sees it as a useful way of reducing unnecessary psychological pressure.
“No, it isn’t a risk. It’s a strategy to lighten the load. If I think, ‘I have to prove something to someone,’ the focus shifts away from the task towards something external, something that’s not under my control. And that has a negative effect.”
“It’s as though he were telling me: I’m bringing something into the car that makes it heavier and isn’t helpful. Thinking that you have to prove something to someone doesn’t make you go faster. It puts a thought in your head that doesn’t help you drive better.”
The difference is subtle but important. Instead of using the race to justify the faith Mercedes placed in him, Kimi Antonelli can concentrate on the driving and decision-making that have brought him into championship contention.
Roger Federer’s mentality offers Kimi Antonelli a solution at Austin
Kimi Antonelli has frequently referred to the mentality of tennis legend Roger Federer, particularly the importance of remaining focused on the present moment. Applying that principle in Formula 1 is especially demanding because drivers must make decisions in fractions of a second while travelling at extraordinary speeds.
Asked how the concept can be applied when a world championship could depend on a single instant, Riccardo Pazzona described it as the most effective approach available to the Mercedes driver.
“In Formula 1, the here and now lasts the blink of an eye. But it’s the only solution Kimi can adopt.”
“Metaphorically, if you look at what’s behind you rather than what’s in front of you, you lose ground. If you make a mistake, the race continues. If you keep looking back and thinking about the mistake, you risk losing control and going off the track.”
“The ability to remain anchored in the here and now allows you to look at what’s ahead rather than into the rear-view mirror. He’s right to absorb this mantra from Federer.”
The comparison highlights the importance of recovering mentally after mistakes. A driver who continues thinking about a previous incident may compromise the next braking point, corner or decision. Remaining focused on the immediate task helps prevent one mistake from creating another.
Why thinking about the F1 world championship can increase anxiety
Kimi Antonelli continues to insist that he is not thinking about the title itself, but about doing everything correctly to give himself the best possible opportunity to win it.
According to Riccardo Pazzona, this is a much more robust psychological approach than concentrating directly on the championship outcome.
“Psychologically, yes, his is a much stronger mentality. It’s the one that doesn’t think about the title, but about how to get there.”
“If you focus on the title, you think only about the final result, about the future. And that takes you away from the here and now. It increases anxiety, stress and tension, including physical tension. And a tense driver doesn’t perform at his best.”
The distinction becomes particularly relevant as Kimi Antonelli approaches his first mathematical opportunity to secure the 2026 world championship at the United States Grand Prix. Having established a commanding advantage in the standings, the Italian can potentially achieve a historic result, but managing the expectations surrounding that possibility remains an important challenge.
With Mercedes having already demonstrated its competitiveness throughout the championship, Kimi Antonelli’s task is to continue reproducing the performances that have placed him in this position rather than allowing thoughts about the final outcome to dominate his approach.
Riccardo Pazzona’s final advice to Kimi Antonelli before the United States GP
When asked what he would say to Kimi Antonelli immediately before the Italian climbed into his Mercedes for Sunday’s race at the Circuit of the Americas, Riccardo Pazzona offered a simple message centred on familiarity, preparation and trust in his existing abilities.
“Stay focused on what you have to do, on what you know how to do. You don’t have to do anything differently from what you’ve already done. You’re in your single-seater, on a circuit you know. Do what you know.”
It is an approach that captures the central argument behind the psychologist’s assessment. Kimi Antonelli does not need to discover a completely new mentality to win the Formula 1 world championship. Instead, the challenge is to maintain the concentration, confidence and psychological balance that have already brought him within reach of the title.
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