(Motorsport-Total.com) – Kimi Antonelli not only won the Belgian Grand Prix but also extended his lead in the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship. A strong contrast to where the 19-year-old stood just a year ago.
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After all, the Mercedes driver almost had to fight back tears after qualifying for the 2025 Belgian GP. Although Toto Wolff’s protégé had started Grand Prix racing with great fanfare, the youngster often lacked the crucial tenths of a second in the European season in his duel with George Russell. Almost twelve months later, the situation is completely reversed, much to the surprise of many.
“We are all surprised,” said Toto Wolff after Antonelli’s sixth win of the season. “His first season went as expected. There were great moments where his talent shone through, and then there were moments that were really difficult.”
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“You know, that dry spell in the middle of the season, that was just as expected. But then after the winter break, as expected, he knew his environment, the pressure, the technical demands of the team, of marketing, and the racetracks.”
“What we didn’t expect,” Wolff said, “was the calmness and structure he displayed. No matter if a session goes well or badly: with Kimi, you don’t see any difference in the briefing. It’s completely calculated. What’s the problem? How can we solve it? How do we move forward? And that’s new.”
“That’s why,” the team boss assessed, “it’s almost as if you don’t see the enthusiasm of a 19-year-old after his victories.”
According to Wolff, Antonelli also stands by his team in difficult moments. He cites Barcelona and Silverstone as examples, where the championship leader failed to score points due to technical problems.
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“He comes back [to the pits] and is the one who tells the team: ‘Well, it’s a mechanical sport, these things can happen,’ and that at 19 years old! That’s really, really impressive.”
“And I believe,” Wolff said, “this mindset and this attitude are probably among the foundations that give him the opportunity to show his talent so early in his career.”
People like race engineer Peter Bonnington also agree with this assessment. Mercedes has been raving about the analytical skills of the championship leader for months.
Just about a year ago, Antonelli himself could never have imagined this form, which he also admits in Spa-Francorchamps. “Last year I reached my low point here,” said the 19-year-old. “It was a very difficult weekend for me mentally.”
“But this year it was much better. If you had asked me a year ago [if this would be possible], I probably would have said ‘no’.”
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