F1 | Antonelli: "I want to fight for the title."

Among the pleasant surprises of this new 2026 season which started with many criticisms and uncertainties due to the new regulations, there is certainly Kimi AntonelliAt just 19 years old, the pilot of the Mercedes Benz became the youngest world ranking leader in the history of the Formula 1, setting a record that will hardly go unnoticed. However, despite his optimism and confidence in his own abilities, Antonelli does not hide his awareness of his own limits, especially when faced with the experience of George Russell, his teammate and great opponent in the race for the title.

During this long break, Antonelli gave some interviews to BILD e Sky In which a cautious yet ambitious tone is evident. When asked about his rapid success, the young pilot said he still feels almost incredulous at the attention his rise has attracted.

"It's crazy how much attention I've received. I bought the papers the next day, read them, and I'll keep them. It's beautiful, it's a pleasure, but it's also dangerous. It's easy to lose focus and get carried away when everyone's celebrating you."

This awareness has pushed him to make specific decisions to manage the pressure. Antonelli admitted to avoiding social media on race weekends to avoid burdening himself with additional expectations.

"The expectations for me have changed dramatically. The truth is that there are still 19 races to go. I want to get more than just one win. My ultimate goal is to be in contention for the title at the end of the season and then win it."

Despite his confidence in his own abilities, Antonelli is honest and realistic, knowing full well that Russell has the advantage in terms of experience:

“Experience is my biggest weakness compared to riders like George, without a doubt. You can't buy that.
But I'm confident I'd still have a chance if the opportunity arose. I've been working towards this for many years, and my victory proved that I can beat anyone if I can reach my potential. But to do that, I need a solid foundation."

The young talent from Bologna emphasized that the forced break in April, while necessary, came at a critical point in the season. After an intense and positive start, the possibility of staying away from the track isn't ideal for those who want to continue consolidating their leadership position.

"It's definitely a shame to have such a long break, but at the same time, I'm not complaining too much because I can spend several days at home. This is important, because it's been a pretty intense start to the season. But, of course, I already miss the track."

Antonelli also highlighted how the break could benefit rivals, giving them more time to close the gap in the championship.

"This break gives our rivals more opportunities to close the gap. We're off to a positive start, the car is strong, but every day off the track is a day for the others to catch up."

Despite the victory at Suzuka, Kimi He said he wasn't entirely satisfied with his performance, especially his start to the race. Experience has taught him how crucial a good start is to consolidate a lead on the track.

“On Sunday in Japan, I didn't enjoy the victory as much as I would have liked because I was upset about the start. I knew I'd been very lucky despite that. It was a real shock; I wanted to tear my hair out. I'm already working on it.”

To improve, the young driver intends to make the most of the break and the simulator, focusing on starts, one of the most delicate aspects of driving in Formula 1.

"Definitely the start simulator. Now I'll take the wheel with all my settings. I'm already thinking about how to improve."

The season is long, and Antonelli knows that every race represents an opportunity to gain experience, points, and confidence. Between managing pressure, improving his starts, and adapting to the car, the young driver has a crucial season ahead of him: not only to confirm his record as the youngest leader in history, but also to try to challenge one of the favorites for the world title.

If he can combine talent, focus, and the ability to learn from his mistakes, Kimi Antonelli could truly fight for the World Championship until the final race, challenging Russell's experience and demonstrating that, in Formula 1, even the youngest drivers can aspire to great things.