Antonelli Credits Mental Shift for Dominant F1 Season

Kimi Antonelli, the dominant leader of the Formula 1 championship, has revealed that a significant mental transformation was the key to his current success. Antonelli told BBC Sport that he knew his driving would be transformed from his first laps in the 2026 Mercedes car. Despite a challenging debut season in 2025, a damp January test day at Silverstone provided the first indication of a breakthrough.

"I just felt better in the car, much better than I felt last year," Antonelli recalled. "Also the car felt well, but I just felt better mentally in the car. Less tense, more relaxed and more mature." He described his previous season as "not great," admitting he often felt tense and unable to perform at his full potential.

This year, however, presents a stark contrast. After 14 Grands Prix, Antonelli holds a substantial 81-point lead over teammate George Russell. His composure and consistent speed have made him a formidable presence in every race, with many considering the championship all but secured.

Antonelli's rapid ascent has surprised even himself. Last year, he was consistently outperformed by Russell. When Mercedes began the new regulatory era with a competitive car, Russell was initially favored for the championship. However, Antonelli finished less than three seconds behind Russell in the season-opening race in Australia, marking a second pivotal moment of realization for his potential.

Overcoming Past Mistakes

Antonelli's first season was notably marked by a significant crash during first practice at the 2024 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, the day after his replacement of Lewis Hamilton was officially announced. While team principal Toto Wolff downplayed the incident at the time, it deeply affected the young driver. "Monza stayed in my head for a very long time," Antonelli stated. "I think all throughout last season, at least. Definitely that was a big thing that was kind of slowing me down."

He described a persistent fear of making mistakes, which was amplified by the difficulties of the 2025 season. "This memory of being afraid to do a mistake, also because going through the difficult period (in the middle of 2025), this memory was even stronger in my head... Because it was already a difficult period and I was like, 'If I even do a mistake or I crash, it's even worse.' This year I was able to just put it behind."

This process involved extensive behind-the-scenes work, analyzing past performance and preparing rigorously. "The preparation that I did in pre-season was very, very intense. But it helped me a lot to arrive ready for this season," he said. He also credited work with his mental coach for focusing on goals and staying present.

Breakthrough Performances

Antonelli admitted to being “definitely surprised” by the extent of his progress this season. "Whereas this year, it's a lot different. Also as well, with the first win, the first pole, it took a lot of weight off my shoulder." His seamless recoveries in races and decisive overtaking moves have become a hallmark of his performance.

While Russell has openly discussed adapting his driving style to the new cars, Antonelli feels he has stepped up and adapted his approach. "This year definitely everything is new. So it requires also a little bit of a different approach. And trying to adapt to a different car, which hasn't been easy."

He attributes his consistency to finding a "nice rhythm" and adhering to his established routines for approaching race weekends. Even with his success, he acknowledges occasional misjudgments, such as overdriving in qualifying at Barcelona after a dominant win in Monaco. The lesson learned was to avoid over-exerting himself after high moments.

This mindful approach was evident after his victory from 19th on the grid at Monza, his home race, which Wolff described as closing a cycle from his 2024 crash. Antonelli stated he reminded himself not to repeat the Barcelona mistake, going on to win the Spanish Grand Prix the following week.

Navigating Fame and Championship Hopes

Antonelli's success has brought increased attention and a significant change to his public life. "Life has changed a lot. I'm not going to lie. It's been a big change, but it's nice to see so much support. Definitely, one side is very nice, but on the other side, you have to be careful. You've got to protect yourself a bit more because obviously you're more exposed."

While consistently focusing on the process, Antonelli has now acknowledged the championship title. "Yes, I thought about it," he admitted. "But again, thinking about it, I came always to the same conclusion that the earlier I finish all this, the better it is. So I've got to just keep pushing. I keep doing the best I can every race. Because, yeah, that's the way. Just not finish. And until it's done, it's not over."