Kimi Antonelli has identified the Japanese Grand Prix as the definitive “turning point” of his championship-winning Formula 1 campaign, noting that the victory provided the psychological breakthrough necessary to believe a world title was within reach.
The Mercedes star secured his first world championship on Sunday in Mexico following a dominant 2026 season. Antonelli’s campaign has been nothing short of remarkable, recording nine victories and 16 podium finishes with four races still remaining on the calendar.
Antonelli has maintained his lead in the standings since the third round at Suzuka in March, where a well-timed safety car allowed him to leapfrog teammate George Russell and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri to claim the win.
This victory followed his maiden Grand Prix win in China just two weeks prior, sparking a five-race winning streak that saw him seize a nine-point advantage over Russell.
“China was the start of everything, but Suzuka was the first turning point because it was when I started to lead the championship,” said the 20-year-old, who now holds the record as F1’s youngest-ever world champion.
“It was a key moment for me; it helped me make a mental switch and gave me the extra belief to say, ‘actually, we can win this.’ Winning at such an iconic track was very special, and taking that lead for the first time provided a massive boost in confidence.”
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Photo by: Artur Widak / NurPhoto via Getty Images
Since that pivotal moment, Antonelli has been nearly untouchable, reaching the podium in all but three races. Two of those exceptions—Barcelona and Silverstone—were the result of technical failures with the W17 rather than driver error.
While Antonelli soared, George Russell struggled with persistent reliability issues. Despite entering the season as the favorite, Russell now sits fourth in the standings, trailing Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
“I think the main thing was the consistency we maintained throughout the entire season,” Antonelli added. “Even when things looked rough, we managed to secure decent results and limit the damage.”
“The key was staying present and approaching every weekend with passion and love for the sport. This weekend was emotionally challenging, but I tried to appreciate every moment—from arriving at the track to the feeling on the grid.”
“I’ve just tried to take it race by race and enjoy the time with my mechanics, engineers, and everyone involved. At the end of the day, I remember how lucky I am to do what I love as a profession.”
