Kimi Antonelli admits he’s unsure of Mercedes’ ‘real potential’ going into the Australian Grand Prix

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Kimi Antonelli is targeting a Championship challenge as the ‘real potential’ of Mercedes’ 2026 W17 will be revealed this weekend.

Ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season, there has been a lot of speculation surrounding Mercedes as they have been picked as Championship favourites by many.

The majority of the attention has fallen on George Russell as he is heading into his eighth year in the sport, and his fifth year as a Mercedes driver.

However, Kimi Antonelli has managed to slip under the radar after setting impressive times in pre-season ahead of his second year in the Formula 1 paddock.

What do you expect from Andrea Kimi Antonelli in the 2026 F1 season?

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

‘A lot of questions’ will be answered at the Australian Grand Prix

In the Formula 1 media pen ahead of the season opener, Antonelli revealed he does not know ‘the race pace’ of the 2026 Mercedes W17.

Despite several days of testing in the latest car, Antonelli believes the ‘real potential’ of the Mercedes will be revealed for the first time this weekend.

According to Antonelli, ‘a lot of questions’ within the Formula 1 paddock will be answered across the Australian Grand Prix.

Antonelli said, “Hopefully, we will be able to fight for the Championship. I think overall we are in a good position, the team has done a really good job so far in both Brackley and Brixworth.

“So, I think we are in a good position, but we don’t know the real pace of the others, and we don’t know our real pace. In testing, we have been focusing on understanding the car, now it is time to reveal and understand the real potential of the car.

“I think it is going to be interesting, and that is why I am very excited for this weekend, as there are a lot of questions that need to be answered, and I just want to discover where we really are.”

Toto Wolff believes Kimi Antonelli can become an F1 champion. Is he wrong?

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Ralf Schumacher backs Kimi Antonelli over George Russell

When discussing who has the best chance of winning the 2026 Formula 1 Championship, former Formula 1 driver, Ralf Schumacher, named Mercedes.

Schumacher did not name Russell as his favourite, but instead Antonelli, as he believes he will be able to beat his more experienced teammate throughout the year.

However, former Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner does not agree with Schumacher, as Steiner believes Antonelli is ‘too young’ to compete for the title.

Although some believe Antonelli can fight for the title, Naomi Schiff believes Antonelli is the driver at risk of losing his seat at the end of the year.