Formula 1 championship leader Kimi Antonelli revealed he feared for his Mercedes future during a mid-season slump that derailed his rookie campaign. The Italian driver now rides a historic five-race winning streak after recovering from poor European performances that saw him fail to escape Q1 in Belgium. His breakthrough came after Mercedes abandoned problematic suspension changes that cost him confidence.

Antonelli became the youngest-ever F1 podium finisher in Canada before his struggles intensified across the European leg. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff admitted the new rear suspension geometry was consigned to the bin after Hungary, but not before Antonelli endured an underwhelming home race at Monza. The slump period taught him valuable lessons about his own capabilities and resilience under pressure.

This season, Antonelli has shown marked improvement despite occasional errors in China and Miami. His Monaco victory from pole demonstrated championship-level composure on one of F1's toughest circuits. Team-mate George Russell has dropped to third place in the standings, raising questions about Mercedes' driver hierarchy for 2026.

The 19-year-old's unprecedented run of consecutive victories following his maiden win positions him as a genuine title contender. However, Antonelli acknowledges lingering questions about his ultimate potential and how much further he can develop in such a short timeframe.