(Motorsport-Total.com) – Kimi Antonelli is increasingly causing excitement in Formula 1 – and now also earning respectful words from former Grand Prix stars. After his fourth consecutive win, experts almost overwhelmed the 19-year-old Mercedes driver with praise.
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Sky expert Ralf Schumacher was particularly impressed, even comparing Antonelli’s development to that of Max Verstappen. “It was an epic duel,” Schumacher says about the close battle with George Russell in Canada. “You also have to say: Kimi is doing it extremely calmly.”
Above all, the calmness and maturity of the young Italian impress the former Formula 1 driver. “You first have to manage to have the situation so under control at such a young age and learn from your mistakes,” explains Schumacher. “If it continues like this, we might really have a successor to Max Verstappen someday.”
Indeed, Antonelli appears significantly more stable in 2026 than in his first season. In 2025, the Italian took over the Mercedes cockpit from Lewis Hamilton under enormous pressure. With wins in China, Japan, and Miami, he even became the youngest championship leader in Formula 1 history.
Antonelli increasingly puts Russell under pressure
Especially internally at Mercedes, the dynamic is now noticeably changing. While George Russell long held the clear leadership role, Antonelli’s influence grows from weekend to weekend. Ralf Schumacher observes exactly this.
“Now he is taking the next step,” says the German. “Now he wants to move forward, now he wants to lead the team.” And you can clearly see that in Russell now. “He no longer gives George a chance to breathe,” Schumacher says. “He constantly puts him under pressure.”
Especially interesting: Schumacher sees this as a possible weakness of the Brit. “George is incredibly fast,” he explains. “But I think he doesn’t handle pressure quite as well. We saw that again today.”
Antonelli’s path was by no means straightforward. Schumacher recalled that the Italian needed some time to stabilize at the start of his Formula 1 career. “He came into Formula 1 with huge expectations,” says Schumacher. “But he was someone who needed some time.”
According to Schumacher, technical problems at Mercedes also hit Antonelli particularly hard. “The misdevelopment of the rear axle last year made life difficult for him,” he explains. “But then he suddenly picked up speed.”
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Martin Brundle speaks of “exceptional” progress
Sky Sports expert Martin Brundle is also deeply impressed by Antonelli’s development after his win in Canada. The former Formula 1 driver even calls the Mercedes driver’s progress “exceptional.”
“He has a strong environment around him, like basically all Formula 1 drivers today,” explains Brundle. “But what matters is how calm he has remained and how strongly he has come back.”
Brundle finds the young Italian’s mental stability particularly remarkable. He referred to the race in Miami when Lando Norris put enormous pressure on Antonelli. “Last year’s Kimi probably would have gone off track at some point,” says Brundle. “But this year he is simply completely stable.”
And this step in development impresses the Brit especially. “Making such progress at this age is really exceptional.”
Formula 1 marvels at Antonelli’s learning curve
Jamie Chadwick, three-time W Series champion and now also part of the Sky UK team, also sees an exceptional driver in Antonelli. “He brings incredible energy,” says Chadwick. “The team obviously enjoys that very much.”
At the same time, it is clear that Antonelli convinces not only through his personality but especially through his performance. “The mere fact that he is only half a tenth behind George here – on a track George loves and knows extremely well – says it all,” she explains.
“Last year we often debated whether he really is a generational talent,” says Chadwick. “Time will tell, but currently he definitely exceeds my expectations. He actually hasn’t been racing cars for that long. His progress has been extremely fast.”
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