Button: One fix and Antonelli will become ‘unstoppable’

Mercedes’ rising star Kimi Antonelli has already done enough in the eyes of Jenson Button to be labelled one of the most exciting young talents on the grid – but also someone with one glaring flaw still standing between promise and dominance.

The 2009 world champion believes the Mercedes prodigy is only one breakthrough away from becoming a truly unstoppable force in Formula 1.

Despite a sensational start to his sophomore season in the sport – including a run of three consecutive victories that has already placed him firmly in championship contention – Antonelli’s launch off the line remains a recurring concern.

From six standing starts in 2026, including Sprint events, he has lost positions each time, often dropping from strong grid positions into the midfield within moments.

Even in Miami, where Antonelli ultimately claimed victory after an early shuffle of positions at Turn 1, his start again left him vulnerable before circumstances swung back in his favour.

Button’s seal of approval

Button, however, has been quick to highlight the broader picture: a driver with elite race pace, composure under pressure, and an ability to recover even when the early phase of a race goes wrong.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, he offered a glowing assessment of the young Italian’s trajectory:

"[He's] really impressive," Button said.

"I think the first and second wins, there was a little bit of luck involved, which we all need as racing drivers, but he capitalised on that and showed his pace, and the last race in Miami was really impressive.

"He was on the back foot a little bit with being Lando Norris at the start of the race, but came through, and his pace at the end of the race was extremely impressive.”

For Button, Antonelli’s Miami performance – where he recovered strongly after an early setback and closed out the race with standout pace – was another sign that the teenager already has the tools of a future champion.

The missing piece: Starts that need sharpening

Yet for all the praise, Button was equally direct about what still needs to change if Antonelli is to convert raw speed into sustained dominance at the front of Formula 1.

"It think there's a lot of improvement that can be made with his races. He is struggling at the start, and he is losing places every race,” said the Briton.

"When he gets that right, he seems like he'll be unstoppable."

• Read also: Brundle says Russell must 'stop Antonelli in his tracks’ in Montreal

It is a striking endorsement of potential – and a clear warning to the rest of the grid.

Antonelli’s race craft, tyre management, and late-race speed already place him among the most dangerous drivers on track. But his opening laps, repeatedly costing him track position, remain the one vulnerability opponents can still exploit.

Mercedes have already acknowledged issues with his Sprint start in Miami, attributing part of the problem to incorrect setup settings that were later adjusted for the Grand Prix.

But for Button, the conclusion is simple: fix the starts, and everything else may already be in place.

If he can launch cleanly, the rest of the grid may soon discover exactly what Button already suspects: a driver on the verge of becoming untouchable.

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