Kimi Antonelli Could Fight for F1 Title in Second Season, Says Patrese
Mercedes youngster Kimi Antonelli has what it takes to battle for a world championship in just his second Formula 1 season, according to former F1 star Riccardo Patrese.
“To the world title!” Patrese told Quotidiano Nazionale when asked how far Antonelli might go next year.
The 19-year-old Italian has already turned heads during his rookie season, scoring three podium finishes including standout performances at Interlagos and a thrilling comeback drive in Las Vegas.
If Antonelli manages to clinch the championship next season, he’d be the first driver to win a title in their second year since Lewis Hamilton pulled it off back in 2008.
“If Mercedes produces the best car with the new rules, Antonelli must focus on staying ahead of Russell, as he has already shown he can do, then the rest will follow,” Patrese explained.
The 2026 season brings a major overhaul to F1’s regulations, potentially shuffling the competitive order and opening doors for new championship contenders.
Patrese has been impressed by how quickly the teenager has adapted to Formula 1’s challenges.
“Excellent. He was making his debut, he had to learn everything, and he was really good at absorbing the inevitable mistakes that come with inexperience,” the former Williams driver said. “I really liked him, he showed glimpses of absolute class.”
The youngster’s rapid progress mirrors Hamilton’s own meteoric rise through the sport fifteen years ago.
With Mercedes potentially pouring significant resources into the 2026 regulation changes, Antonelli might find himself with championship-caliber machinery sooner than expected.
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