Antonelli reveals mental reset behind Formula 1 title charge

Kimi Antonelli says a change in mindset helped him move beyond the effects of his 2024 Monza practice crash and become Formula 1's championship leader. In a BBC Sport interview published on September 23, the Mercedes driver described feeling more relaxed when he first drove the team's 2026 car at Silverstone.

Watch the highlights:

Antonelli told the BBC that fear of another mistake had affected him throughout his rookie season. Intense preparation and work with a mental coach helped him concentrate on the task immediately ahead rather than possible outcomes. He said that this year's opening race in Australia showed he could recover from a practice accident without losing confidence.

Formula 1's official account of his career development places that earlier setback on August 30, 2024. Then 18, Antonelli was driving George Russell's Mercedes in first practice at Monza when he crashed at Parabolica within the session's opening ten minutes. The team had already selected him to replace Lewis Hamilton for 2025, with the announcement scheduled for the following day.

Mercedes proceeded with that announcement despite the accident. Formula 1 reported that his first full campaign later included a Sprint pole in Miami and a podium in Canada, alongside a difficult European stretch. Antonelli subsequently described a meeting with the team after that period as an opportunity to reset. He finished the season with further podium appearances in Brazil and Las Vegas.

His return to Monza this season produced a markedly different result. After an engine-related grid penalty, Antonelli won from 19th on the grid. Formula 1 reported that it was the first Italian Grand Prix victory at Monza by an Italian driver since Ludovico Scarfiotti in 1966.

According to the BBC, Antonelli now has eight wins from 14 races and leads Russell by 81 points. He acknowledged thinking about the championship but stressed that it remained unfinished, with his priority still to maximise each race rather than treat the title as secured.