Mercedes has been advised to finalize a contract extension for Kimi Antonelli despite the young driver’s recent struggles. Antonelli, an 18-year-old Italian, made a remarkable debut in Formula 1 by finishing fourth at the rain-soaked Australian Grand Prix.
He stepped into the F1 scene to replace Lewis Hamilton, who had decided to move to Ferrari, and followed up his debut with consecutive sixth-place finishes in China and Japan. Antonelli continued to impress by securing pole position for the Miami sprint race and clinching his first podium at the Canadian Grand Prix.
However, his standout performance in Montreal has been overshadowed by a series of disappointing results as the season progressed. The combination of Antonelli’s dwindling form and the Mercedes car becoming more challenging to handle with upgrades has severely impacted the teenager’s confidence.
Despite scoring points with a ninth-place finish at Monza, Antonelli faced criticism from team principal Toto Wolff for his race pace decline during the event. Wolff, who previously defended Antonelli’s mistakes due to his age and inexperience, expressed disappointment in his performance at Monza.
Wolff confirmed that both Antonelli and George Russell would receive contract extensions to race for Mercedes in 2026. However, neither driver has signed a new deal yet. Sky Sports commentator David Croft suggested that Mercedes should expedite the process to provide Antonelli with reassurance and boost his confidence.
Nico Rosberg, a former champion, also highlighted Wolff’s change in approach towards Antonelli at Monza, speculating that the shift in tone may indicate a strategic move to motivate the young driver and his family to adopt a different strategy.
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