The Secret Behind Kimi Antonelli’s Speed
Why is Kimi Antonelli so fast? At just 20, the Mercedes driver has become the youngest F1 world champion. We look at the driving style, preparation and support that helped him get there.
Antonelli went straight from Formula 2 to replacing Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes. What did Toto Wolff see that convinced him to give a teenager one of the biggest seats in Formula 1?
We follow his journey from karting to F1, revisit his Monza practice crash and look at the lessons from his rookie season. His sharp steering inputs, ability to get his tyres working and feel for grip help explain his speed. Turning that speed into a world championship took another step.
With insight from Max Verstappen and Toto Wolff, we examine Antonelli’s battle with George Russell and the consistency behind his 2026 Formula 1 title. We also consider whether the comparisons with Hamilton, Verstappen and Ayrton Senna hold up.
Join the conversation!