Kimi Antonelli addresses Mercedes future pressure in contract uncertainty

Kimi Antonelli has addressed the pressure he faces following the confirmation that he will race for Mercedes next season, with his future remaining uncertain beyond 2026. 

Ahead of this weekend's United States Grand Prix, Mercedes finally confirmed that it had retained both Antonelli and George Russell for next year – the first of the new power unit regulations.

However, the Silver Arrows did not reveal the length of the contracts, raising speculation that both drivers are on one-year deals. 

It has been a mixed debut campaign for Antonelli, who endured a European leg of the season to forget. Across the nine rounds in Europe, the 19-year-old collected just three points. 

His form has improved dramatically since F1 departed Europe and began the flyaways, with 22 points having been scored across Azerbaijan and Singapore alone.

Antonelli has rediscovered some confidence as a result of his improved form, while the confirmation that he will remain in F1 next season has also relaxed him.

Asked when he felt more secure about his future, Antonelli told select media including RacingNews365: "With the team, the team has always been very clear on their plans and on what they wanted to do. So I wasn't never really worried, but it's always nice to get the confirmation. 

"Especially, with all the ups and downs in the difficult period, some doubt starts to kick in, but the team has always been very supportive and also very open that they wanted to continue with me, especially for next year. 

"So I'm really happy to have gotten the confirmation now that it's been announced. And I think it's also, even though I knew it, it still kind of relaxes me a little bit more, because I know now for sure that I'm in the seat for next year."

Antonelli must deliver for 2027 seat

While Antonelli is more relaxed knowing that he will remain with Mercedes in 2026, he is unsure if he has a seat beyond that. 

The teenager acknowledged that he must perform next season in order to retain his seat for a third campaign with the Brackley-based squad, especially as he will have his rookie year under his belt.

Addressing if he has any assurances over his Mercedes future beyond next year, Antonelli explained: "To be honest, I don't know. I race year by year, and the goal is always trying to deliver the best results possible. 

"And I just said before with the team, they obviously want to work with me also in the future, and not only next year, but I need to perform as well. 

"So, their plan is to continue with me as well, probably beyond 2026. But for me as a driver, I need to perform, and I need to deliver the results. 

"Especially next year, because next year I'm going to have a year under my belt, and it's going to be new regulations for everyone, and a massive opportunity. 

"So especially if we have the car, it's going to be really important for me to really maximise the results and to really perform at my best, especially if I want the seat for 2027 and beyond."