is eyeing a 2026 Formulation 1 title combat as his workforce enters the 12 months as championship favourites – however boss Toto Wolff is taking part in down expectations.
This 12 months, F1 will introduce a totally new set of rules with adjustments to each the chassis and energy unit – that means it’s at the moment unclear what the pecking order will probably be given the wholesale switch-up.
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However Mercedes continues to be the bookmakers’ favorite contemplating it dominated the final engine swap in 2014 with a file eight, straight titles. It additionally began this season strongly, and impressed in final week’s Barcelona shakedown.
The Silver Arrows accomplished probably the most mileage of any workforce throughout its three days of working, .
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It subsequently seems to be as if Mercedes has overcome its 4 disappointing years through the ground-effect period the place both or Crimson Bull clinched each title because the Silver Arrows fell far behind.
So Antonelli now has his sights on profitable the championship, regardless of being solely 19 years outdated and getting into his second season after ending seventh in his rookie marketing campaign with three podiums.
“That is completely the purpose,” mentioned Antonelli, who was quick tracked to F1 with 5 titles on the junior degree, through the official Mercedes 2026 launch on Monday.
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“The purpose is to win and to finally combat for the world championship. So, that is my purpose and the purpose is to win and to be top-of-the-line. So positively, that is what I need and naturally, George [Russell] could be very, very robust and positively is able to combat for a championship and is among the benchmarks on the grid. I feel it will be fairly enjoyable, particularly competing with him and so, yeah, actually wanting ahead to it.”
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes W17
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes W17
Wolff, nevertheless, is just not hyping up Antonelli’s title possibilities after a really up-and-down 2025 marketing campaign because the Italian’s three podiums and Miami dash pole was marred by varied unnecessary errors like crashing in a free follow outing.
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There’s additionally the added caveat that team-mate Russell is now in his eighth 12 months of F1, was thought-about the perfect driver behind final season and is the title favorite.
The Mercedes boss mentioned: “Kimi, he is utterly on the trajectory that we have at all times mapped out firstly, final 12 months – first 12 months in Formulation 1 with this big circus coming upon him, the obligations with the media, the requests from sponsors and fan fandom and that is precisely why we had superb performances after which some races the place he struggled extra.
“So now there is no doubt about his pace and about his race craft. He is going into his second season, he is aware of all of the tracks, he is aware of all of you guys, he is aware of a lot of the different necessities. So I am completely sure that it will likely be a superb 12 months for him.
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“Having mentioned that, I do not suppose we should always anticipate him to be on prime, to be like George on a regular basis. George is among the finest ones, he is been in Formulation 1 a very long time.
“He is a benchmark and Kimi’s 19 and he is going into his second season. So we’ll see one other step that I am sure about.”
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