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Kimi Antonelli gains confidence as F1 title contender this season

Motorsport.com • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 11, 2026, 1:29 PM

Last updated Aug 11, 2026

Kimi Antonelli gains confidence as F1 title contender this season

Summary

Kimi Antonelli has emerged as a contender in the current Formula 1 season, drawing attention for his maturity and experience. Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord highlighted Antonelli's journey, which included a challenging rookie year as one of the youngest drivers in F1 history. Prior to his promotion to the F1 team, Antonelli spent only one season in F2, bypassing F3 entirely. His development with the team comes amid high expectations following his connection with Lewis Hamilton. Antonelli’s performance will be closely monitored as the season progresses.

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Key Details

•Kimi Antonelli is now a contender in the Formula 1 season.
•Bradley Lord cites Antonelli's maturity and prior challenges.
•Antonelli was the third-youngest driver in F1 history.
•He transitioned directly from F2 to F1, skipping F3.
•Expectations are high due to his relationship with Lewis Hamilton.

Latest Updates

1:29 PMMotorsport.com — Maturity, experience, self-belief – The keys to Kimi Antonelli’s new F1 level

What they're saying

"
Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord has given several reasons behind Kimi Antonelli’s rise into a Formula 1 title contender this season. Antonelli endured a tough rookie campaign last year as F1’s third-youngest driver in history, having bypassed F3 to spend just one year in F2 before joining one of the most successful teams in the world championship – courtesy of Lewis Hamilton ...Keep reading
— Motorsport.com

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