Antonelli facing pivotal year in 2026: ‘I’ll need to perform at my best’

Kimi Antonelli knows that next season could make or break his Formula 1 career with Mercedes, and that he’ll need to step up his performance and consistency to retain his seat with the Brackley squad beyond 2026.

The teenage prodigy – hailed as one of the sport’s brightest young talents – was awarded this, along with teammate George Russell, a contract extension ahead of the US Grand Prix.

But while the Briton is believed to have committed to a multi-year deal with Mercedes, Antonelli’s agreement is likely limited to the upcoming twelve months.

This, the Italian admits, puts the onus on him to prove he belongs in the Silver Arrows’ plum seat.

“I race year by year, and I’m always trying to deliver the best results as possible,” Antonelli told the media in Austin. “As I said before with the team, they obviously want to work with me also in the future, and not only next year, but I need to perform as well.

“Their plan is to continue with me as well, probably beyond 2026 as well. But for me as a driver, I need to perform and I need to deliver the results, especially next year because I’ll have a year under my belt and it’s going to be a new regulation for everyone and a massive opportunity.

“If we have the car, it’s going to be really important for me to really maximise the result and to really perform at my best, especially if I want the seat for ’27 and beyond.”

Lessons from a turbulent rookie campaign

Antonelli’s first season in Formula 1 has been one of growth as well as frustration. After a promising start, his form dipped mid-season – particularly through the European rounds – as a combination of mistakes and reliability issues limited his points haul.

Between Imola and Zandvoort, he only finished in the top ten twice.

He eventually rediscovered his rhythm as Mercedes’ pace improved, taking a strong fourth in Baku and showing flashes of speed against Russell in Singapore, even if a messy qualifying left him playing catch-up in the race.

Reflecting on his season, Antonelli admitted that the difficult spell tested his confidence.

“The team has always been very clear on their plans and on what they wanted to do, so I was never really worried, but it’s always nice to get the confirmation,” he said.

“Especially with all the ups and downs, especially the difficult period, some doubt starts to kick in. But the team has always been very supportive and very open that they wanted to continue with me, especially for next year.

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“I’m really happy to have the confirmation now that it’s been announced. Even though I knew it, it still kind of relaxes me a little bit, a little bit more because I know now for sure that I have the seat for next year.”

Antonelli’s blend of humility and determination suggests he understands the stakes – and the opportunity – that lie ahead.

With Mercedes expected to be a front-running force under the new rules, 2026 could well be the year that defines whether the young Italian cements himself as the team’s long-term future or faces a fight to stay on the grid.

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