Kimi Antonelli says he knew from the first moment he drove this year's Mercedes that he would be transformed as a Formula 1 driver in 2026. The 20-year-old Italian, who is running away with the world championship in only his second season in F1, is reflecting on his breakthrough year in an exclusive interview with BBC Sport.

A difficult debut season last year had left external expectations low. But on a damp January day at Silverstone, he sensed something special. "It was just a few laps in the wet, but I just felt better in the car," Antonelli says. "Less tense, more relaxed and more mature." After 14 grands prix, he is 81 points clear of team-mate George Russell.

Antonelli says he is "still finding my way" in F1. He was comprehensively outperformed by Russell in 2025, but now looks in control. He recalls a big crash in FP3 at the opening race in Australia: "The crash, definitely it compromised a little bit qualifying and the race. But still being able to stay close despite that, I knew already that it was a different story compared to last year."

Antonelli's first season was haunted by a crash at the 2024 Italian Grand Prix during first practice at Monza. "Monza stayed in my head for a very long time," he says. "Definitely that was a big thing that was kind of slowing me down."