Charles Leclerc would be ‘happy’ if Kimi Antonelli wins the 2026 F1 title given what he sees in him

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Charles Leclerc is not thinking about joining the 2026 F1 title fight “just yet”, and says he would be “happy” if Andrea Kimi Antonelli wins the championship if Ferrari fail to.

The 2026 drivers’ championship battle is teetering on the edge of becoming a four-way fight after Leclerc won the British Grand Prix and Antonelli slipped to P15 after a troubled race at Silverstone. The Mercedes ace was the only title contender not on the podium last time out.

Antonelli was on course to challenge for the victory at Silverstone before his front-left wheel shield broke, after which he received a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits, which meant Mercedes had to watch as Leclerc won the British GP for Ferrari under the safety car.

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Charles Leclerc sees himself in Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s ‘incredible enthusiasm’

Mercedes star George Russell and Ferrari racer Lewis Hamilton also reached the rostrum at Silverstone, with the former stealing P2 when his British compatriot pitted under the safety car. The result in the British GP left Antonelli leading Russell atop the drivers’ standings with 179 and 154 points respectively, while Ferrari stars Hamilton and Leclerc have 147 and 108.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Mercedes F1 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli

Leclerc is not thinking about mounting a challenge to Antonelli’s lead “just yet”, however, as his first priority is simply securing another race win. The Monegasque also says he would be “happy” if Antonelli wins the title, should Ferrari fail to, as he can see himself in the Italian.

“I’m not thinking about the championship just yet,” Leclerc told Sky Sports Italy. “I want to win another race…

“If Ferrari do not win the title, I’d be happy for Kimi to win it. He’s incredibly enthusiastic, [and] I can see myself in that when I think back to when I made my debut.”

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Antonelli is only in his second season in Formula 1, yet has continued to break records and could become the youngest-ever champion if he sees out his lead in the standings through nine of the 22 rounds. The 19-year-old would even shatter Sebastian Vettel’s record, as the German became the current youngest-ever champion in 2010 at 23 years and four months.

The Bologna boy does not appear to be fazed by his emerging status as the title favourite, either. Antonelli achieved five wins in a row from rounds two to six – including in Monaco – and bounced back from retiring in Barcelona through a battery failure to finish P3 in Austria.

Leclerc also secured his first Grand Prix wins during his second season in F1, after debuting for Sauber in 2018 before moving up to Ferrari in 2019. The 28-year-old took his first wins during the 2019 Belgian GP and Italian GP, but he then had to wait until 2022 to win again.

While Antonelli scored his first five Grand Prix wins through his first 33 starts, Leclerc took 91 races to claim five wins, as well. Leclerc’s British GP win marked his ninth career victory through his 180 starts, having not won a race before that since the 2024 United States GP.