Kimi Antonelli is displaying incredible levels of maturity in just his second season in Formula 1, and it has taken him to within touching distance of the championship.

Many would agree that the young Italian’s rookie season was difficult – finishing seventh after a disastrous European leg may have got him dropped from another top-four team. But Mercedes kept faith in him, and it has paid off handsomely in 2026.

Antonelli has nine wins and has only been off the podium three times. His latest win in Austin, where Antonelli beat Mercedes teammate George Russell by 54 seconds, has given him the chance to win the title in Mexico.

Kimi Antonelli said ‘off the record’ there are too many races he is not winning, and he needs fan engagement to boost energy

Antonelli will become champion in Mexico City if Russell or Lewis Hamilton fail to win the race. The 20-year-old will make history as F1’s youngest world champion, and to do it in his sophomore year after just a challenging debut season makes it all the more impressive.

His dramatic turnaround is what has caught the eyes of so many in the paddock. Antonelli has thought about the title very little this year, and this was on display again in Austin.

Sky Sports Italy presenter Vicky Piria was talking on The F1 Show about Antonelli’s approach. She says that he told her ‘off the record’ that he came into the race wanting to win, as there are ‘too many’ occasions where he is not winning.

Piria said: “You know when you’re so methodical and you don’t want to do something in a different way because you think it will bring bad luck? Like the black cat that crosses the road. He’s really superstitious, but in a mental way.

“And I always find it funny because this superstition is actually a way he has his method and he builds up the weekend. He builds up his mindset.

“He came into this race weekend saying, ‘I’ve got a championship to win.’ No, he came into this weekend saying, ‘I need to win. I need to go back to winning because it’s too many races I’m not winning.’ He literally said that to us off the record and I was like, ‘You just have to win the championship.'”

The Mercedes driver has also been keen to engage with fans during race weekends. While some may find it tiring, he claims that it gives him ‘extra energy’.

Piria continued: “That methodical way is what is surprising. He’s so aware of what he needs to go fast. You were talking about when he stops and signs all hats with the fans and everything and I asked him, because me personally, it really tires mentally sometimes.

“Some people, some drivers don’t really feel like doing it. It’s not because they’re mean, it’s just because it’s tiring sometimes. It’s extra energy. And I asked him, ‘Why don’t you get tired? Why do you do so much?’ And he’s like, ‘This gives me energy. I need it.’

“When I was 20 years old, I was nowhere [near] aware of what I needed to be a better person or a better driver. He is so aware of what he needs and that for me is surprising.”

This approach is exactly why he is about to become F1 champion. He is clearly not letting the pressure get to him, and showing his love for the fans is giving him that extra boost he needs to deliver on the track – combining the two makes him a lethal threat.

Kimi Antonelli’s father shows how his son will be champion with their approach to races

Of course, Antonelli must prove he is not a ‘one-hit wonder’, as David Coulthard rightly says, but he will not feel the pressure from that, as his father Marco has hinted. The family have been quick to hone in on their weaknesses and not get bogged down by the title fight.

Coulthard shared his conversation with Marco Antonelli on Up To Speed after his son’s victory at COTA: “He did a Grand Prix with only one, not even official track limit. He kind of ran wide down at turn 12 when he was trying to navigate his way through the back markers.

“And I was talking to his dad afterwards and that was the first thing he honed in. He was like, ‘Kimi, we need to avoid track limits’, because he’s done it at so many Grands Prix. But what a mature, amazing drive.”

Naomi Schiff also shared her conversations with Marco: “I actually caught up with his Dad, not after the race, DC, but before the race on the grid.

“I was just there right in front of his car as he was getting ready to go in into the car and I was just thinking to myself, ‘Man, this has got to be a lot of pressure on a young man’s shoulder. He’s got Max Verstappen to his left, all eyes are on him.’

“And so I went over to his Dad and I was like, a penny for his thoughts. And he’s like, ‘We’re not thinking about the world title today. We’re just ready to go racing with Max.’

“And I guess it just goes back down to the basics. As a racing driver, all you care about is getting in the car and going as quick as you possibly can and out racing your competition and they stuck to those basics and their basics are pretty good.”