Kimi Antonelli downplayed the impact of taking the lead in the Formula 1 drivers’ championship, stating that he remains focused solely on his personal development. Even after two consecutive victories, the young Mercedes driver made it clear that he does not intend to change his approach.
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The Italian firmly entered the title race after securing his first victory in China and repeating the result in Japan. The performance allowed Antonelli to overtake his teammate, George Russell, and become the youngest driver in Formula 1 history to lead the championship.
This moment represents a significant turnaround from last season, when the youngster faced difficulties in his debut season in the category. Now nineteen years old, Antonelli states that the experience gained during that more difficult period has been fundamental to his evolution in 2026.
“Overall, I feel stronger, more in control of the situation,” he said. According to him, having raced on all tracks the previous year has helped a lot: “Having done all the circuits last year is helping a lot this year. Having already experienced race weekends also helps, because I know better what to expect,” he stated.
The young driver also highlighted that his current confidence is a direct result of this experience: “I know better how to move, how to manage myself during the weekend. Last year’s experience is playing a huge role, because I feel more relaxed, more confident and more in control of the situation.”
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Even with the strong start, Antonelli avoids thinking about the title at this moment: “It was a better start than we expected and wanted, at least on my part. Expectations automatically changed, but I continue with the same mentality as the first races,” he said.
The championship leader reinforced that he prefers to stay focused on the present: “What I don’t want to do is start thinking about the final result or the long term. I want to focus on the present and how I can maximize every time I get in the car to get the best result,” he added.
With the Miami GP as the next round, a track where he achieved his first pole for a Sprint race, Antonelli hopes to maintain the good momentum. Still, the Italian remains cautious in the face of the competition: “George is very strong and the opponents will get closer, so I need to keep doing what I’m doing and raise the level little by little,” he concluded.
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