Kimi Antonelli is reportedly looking to build a trusted inner circle around him as he prepares for the mental challenge of the 2026 title race.
He’s still in just his second year of Formula 1, but Kimi Antonelli arrives at the Miami Grand Prix leading the championship. His first pole positions and wins came earlier this season in China and Japan.
Antonelli won from pole in China with a mature drive, having just become the youngest-ever polesitter. In Japan, a timely safety car recovery after Oliver Bearman’s crash helped him recover from a poor start and take victory there as well.
With back-to-back wins before the April break, Antonelli holds a nine-point lead over Mercedes teammate George Russell in the standings. If he goes on to win the title this year, he’ll become Formula One’s youngest champion by more than three years.
Kimi Antonelli brings ‘whole family’ to Miami GP to help manage title pressure
Antonelli has said he feels confident that he can come out on top in the 2026 F1 title race against Russell, but also admits his teammate’s experience could be a significant factor. While Russell is in his eighth season, Antonelli is still only in his second year in Formula 1.
Russell made his debut with Williams back in 2019 before joining Mercedes a few years later. Since then, he’s been a steady presence in the paddock and has grown into one of the more consistent drivers on the grid.
Corriere Della Sera has reported that Antonelli is putting real emphasis on building up the mental side of his game, recognising what it will take for him to reach Italy’s third Formula One world championship after Giuseppe Farina (1950) and Alberto Ascari (1952 and 1953).
This approach isn’t surprising considering how demanding the F1 calendar can be and how much attention comes with leading a title race. With this goal in mind, Antonelli recently flew out “the whole family” to Miami so he could have familiar faces around him during such a pivotal time.
He believes having trusted people nearby can help offset some of the external noise and give him something stable to rely on outside of racing. And having those voices close by gives Kimi Antonelli an even better support system as well as someone who understands what comes with living life under the spotlight from an early age.
For now though, George Russell isn’t worried about what’s coming next down the line. He isn’t letting himself think too far ahead either given how early it still is into this new campaign – instead choosing each race at face value so nothing gets away from him over time.
Read more: