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One year ago, Andrea Kimi Antonelli was a promising rookie wrapping up his debut Formula 1 season with a seventh-place championship finish and a rookie points record. Today, as of September 2026, he is the undisputed king of the grid, leading the standings with seven wins, six poles, and a historic victory at the Italian Grand Prix where he climbed from 19th on the grid to take the chequered flag – a feat no one had ever achieved. On the eve of that 2025 Italian GP, we sat down with the young Mercedes driver. His words, now that he has become the sport’s new poster boy, carry extraordinary weight.
A driver driven by instinct and preparation
When asked to describe himself behind the wheel, Antonelli didn’t hesitate: “Instinctive, especially when I reach that super-focused zone during a race and drive almost automatically.” But he quickly added that raw instinct alone isn’t enough. “I’m working on every aspect – getting to know the car as thoroughly as possible to build the best confidence. If you have that, you can push straight away and find the limit much faster.”
That philosophy has paid off spectacularly. His 2026 season has been defined by relentless consistency and the ability to extract maximum performance from his Mercedes AMG-Petronas car even in the trickiest conditions. The 19th-to-1st drive at Monza was a masterclass in tyre management, overtaking, and mental fortitude.
The secret that was kept for months
Antonelli revealed that Mercedes had informed him of his 2025 seat during the summer break of 2024, but he was sworn to secrecy. “Rumors were already circulating, and my friends kept asking. I had to deny everything. Once it was made official, it was a lovely moment to share, but it took me a while to realize what had happened to me.”
That reserved, grounded attitude has remained constant. Now, with the pressure of a title fight, he credits his support network – including his family in Bologna – for keeping him balanced. “Bologna is a peaceful city despite being a university town. I’m surrounded by motorsport heritage there – Ducati, Lamborghini, Ferrari – but I go back to see family and friends whenever I can.”
RC cars, tennis, and mental training
Beyond the F1 simulator, Antonelli has picked up a surprising hobby: driving 1:8 scale radio-controlled cars. “They’re brilliant and very challenging. I see it as mental training because it forces me to stay focused without a moment’s distraction.” He also plays tennis and padel with his trainer, and occasionally meets friends for cinema or bowling. “Simple activities help me switch off.”
This off-track discipline has clearly translated into race-day performance. According to former F1 driver and analyst Martin Brundle, “Antonelli’s ability to process information and adapt mid-race is extraordinary for someone so young. He doesn’t just drive fast – he understands the car’s behavior at a level that usually takes years to develop.”
Bridging the gap between driving and engineering
Antonelli acknowledges that modern F1 drivers must be more than just fast. “Every detail makes a difference. Look at the number of buttons on the steering wheel. Before the season, they sent me a 30-page brochure explaining functions and procedures. I studied it thoroughly because it’s complicated even in practice, but during a race you have to make changes instantly – sometimes the team asks you to fix a system error following their instructions.”
He also emphasizes the importance of understanding aerodynamics and tire behavior. When asked if he’d consider an engineering degree, he laughed: “I don’t know about that... but for a driver, understanding mechanics helps guide the team on the car’s development direction. It might not give you an edge in driving, but it helps the team.”
Idols: Senna’s sensitivity, Jordan’s edge
Antonelli’s sporting idols are Ayrton Senna and Michael Jordan. From Senna, he wants to take “his sensitivity behind the wheel – that special knack for knowing exactly how far to push the car. I have that too, but I’m working to take it further.” From Jordan, he admires “competitive edge, even with teammates, always pushing them beyond limits from training sessions, and mental resilience: staying calm and turning things around even when things go badly.”
That combination of technical awareness and mental toughness has been the hallmark of his 2026 season. As the championship heads into the final rounds, Antonelli has a commanding lead and shows no signs of slowing down.
A year of transformation
From a seventh-place rookie with 150 points to a seven-time race winner and championship leader, Kimi Antonelli’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric. Yet his words from that 2025 interview remain true: “If you know the car well, you can push it to the limit straight away.” That philosophy, paired with his relentless work ethic, has made him the driver to beat – and a legend in the making.
