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Kimi Antonelli has finally finished his rookie Formula 1 season and will be safely returning for another year in 2026.
He bounced back well from a summer wobble and proved some of his doubters wrong towards the end of the campaign, even giving teammate George Russell a tough time.
Mercedes can be encouraged by the signs that he showed in 2025. At times, Antonelli had a lot of raw pace, but it’s hard to tell whether he was better than the man he replaced, Lewis Hamilton.
Heading into the 2026 F1 regulations, it’s up to the Silver Arrows to continue to give him the support he needs to grow. A long-term contract extension would do him good if he performs well enough to merit one.
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Antonelli cannot go ‘missing for multiple races’ again, as he did a few months ago. As a driver for a top team, his responsibility is to compete at the front.
Despite his struggles, Marc Surer thinks that Antonelli had the ‘easiest’ job of the rookies because he walked into a fast car. The problem was that he had a lot more expectation on him, though.
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Antonelli needs more ‘experience’ in 2026 and knows where he must improve if he wants to be recognised as one of the better drivers.
Speaking to Sky Italia, he addressed a question which asked him whether joining Ferrari could be a possibility for him one day. An Italian driver in an Italian team would be a dream for their fans.
“Ferrari is an incredibly great team,” he said. “Racing for Ferrari is wonderful, but I’m very happy with where I am, and I’m grateful for the opportunity Mercedes has given me.
Do any of these drivers need to change their ways in 2026?
Driving offences only
“My dream right now is to win a World Championship with them, then we’ll see in the future.”
Oscar Piastri gave Antonelli the same feeling as Max Verstappen when he had him in his mirrors this year. It’s hard not to feel daunted.
But now he has proven to himself that he can reach that podium and that he is good enough to compete at the highest level, his confidence should be higher than ever in 2026.
Why Kimi Antonelli can be excited for the 2026 Formula 1 season
Heading into another regulation change, Mercedes will be keen to have a heavy reset and eliminate the concerns of the past few years.
The ground-effect era of cars didn’t suit them at all, and while they were mostly competitive, they were never good enough to get close to winning titles.
Mercedes have a ‘very large advantage’ for 2026, particularly over Red Bull, who are starting from scratch with their power unit.
Their preparation will have been better this time around, presenting Antonelli with an opportunity to potentially get his first career victory.
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