Kimi Antonelli thinks ‘everything is possible’ as he outlines plans to win 2026 F1 title

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Kimi Antonelli is looking to fight for the Formula 1 world championship in 2026, in what is only his second season in the sport.

Joining Mercedes as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement in 2025, Antonelli had a rough start to life in F1. Finishing seventh in the standings, scoring three impressive podiums along the way, his season was marred by inconsistency and rookie mistakes.

The European leg of the season was particularly damaging as he struggled with unreliability and several crashes. It was certainly a learning year, and now the Italian is looking to take that into the new era in 2026.

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The regulation changes look to favour the Silver Arrows, as Mercedes are believed to have the fastest power unit. This puts Antonelli and teammate George Russell in a strong position to compete for the title.

Pre-season testing was encouraging, as Mercedes had the best practice starts on average in Bahrain. It is all pointing towards the Brackley outfit being the favourite to take home the title, and Antonelli is determined for that to be him.

Kimi Antonelli says ‘everything is possible’ as he aims to fight for 2026 F1 title

Ralf Schumacher thinks Antonelli has the ‘best chance’ at the title in 2026. With a year under his belt and with the best engine, he has all the tools he needs.

Of course, the 19-year-old is not naive. He knows full well that he is in for a tough fight at the front all season, but he believes that ‘everything is possible’ and that he aims to win races in 2026.

Speaking via the official Mercedes YouTube channel, he said: “The goal is, as I said last year, to win, to be the best out there, to outperform the others.

“The goal is to try and win and to fight for the championship. Of course, it’s going to be super hard because the level is incredible.

“I’ve got a very strong teammate, but also the opponents are extremely competitive and strong. So, it’s going to take a lot within me to make that happen, but I think everything is possible.”

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

How do F1 fans rate Kimi Antonelli’s title chances in 2026?

Antonelli has had to learn a lot during his first 12 months in F1, but thankfully, he has had the right people around him at all times.

Toto Wolff told Antonelli there are ‘no miracles’ in F1 and that there is no substitute for hard work. Mercedes have developed the Italian into an exciting young talent who could be capable of winning the title one year.

The team have full faith in him, but whether he can take that extra step and win the championship in 2026 is another question. He will have the car to do it, but he will be up against tough competition.

F1 fans do not rate Antonelli as a title contender, with him receiving just over 1% of F1 Oversteer’s vote for the championship winner. Teammate Russell is rated as a more serious contender, with Lewis Hamilton being the outright favourite.