Kimi Antonelli has started the 2026 Formula 1 season strongly and is already leading the championship, but recognizes that he still needs to improve to compete for the title. The young Mercedes driver pointed to qualifying sessions as the main area where he needs to improve to consistently challenge his teammate, and main rival at the moment, George Russell.
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The Italian took the lead after winning the Japanese GP and has a nine-point advantage over Russell. The forced break in the category’s calendar, following the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs due to the war in the Middle East, keeps the scenario frozen after three rounds held.
Antonelli highlighted that the arrival of the new cars helped reduce the gap to Russell, a much more experienced driver within the team. According to him, the fact that everyone started from scratch was an important factor in his evolution.
“Yes, it certainly helps that everyone started from scratch. It still helps, but I have definitely been closing the gap to George,” said the Italian, who is competing in only his second season in Formula 1.
Despite the good start, the nineteen-year-old driver admitted that he still faces difficulties in qualifying sessions, especially in Q3. For Antonelli, Russell still has the advantage in this aspect, something he intends to improve throughout the championship: “I think he still has the advantage in qualifying sessions, especially when it comes to Q3. He always manages to find that little bit extra, and I’m working on that. But in terms of race pace, I think we have a very strong base. He is a very strong and complete driver,” he stated.
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The championship leader also expects an intense battle throughout the season. Antonelli recalled his teammate’s consistent performance the previous year and emphasized that he will need to execute everything perfectly to stay in the title fight: “I think he showed it many times last year, so it won’t be easy. That’s why I need to do everything as perfectly as possible,” he said.
Furthermore, Antonelli highlighted that he feels more confident this season. The Italian stated that the experience gained last year had a direct impact on his current performance: “Big step. Experience helps a lot. Last year I went through a lot and learned much more than I expected. That is helping this year. There is still a lot of work to do, but I feel much more in control of the situation,” added.
The Italian driver also highlighted the importance of seizing the moment and praised the performance of the Mercedes car: “The car helps, and I will try to be ready, because it’s one of those opportunities that don’t happen every day. I am very grateful for the car the team has given us so far, and I need to stay focused,” Antonelli concluded.
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