News Summary
- Lewis Hamilton believes Kimi Antonelli deserves to become the 2026 F1 world champion, as the Mercedes driver prepares for his first opportunity to secure the title in Austin.
- The seven-time champion said Mercedes made the right decision to promote Antonelli after his departure and recalled how the Italian impressed him while following the team.
- Hamilton praised Antonelli’s ability to handle pressure and highlighted the importance of race engineer Peter Bonnington and Mercedes’ technical staff.
Lewis Hamilton has publicly backed Kimi Antonelli to win the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship, insisting that the Italian deserves the title after replacing him at Mercedes. Speaking during Thursday’s press conference ahead of the United States Grand Prix, the Ferrari driver praised his former team’s decision to promote the youngster and the progress he has made since joining the grid.
Antonelli arrives in Austin with 340 points, 102 ahead of Mercedes teammate George Russell, and has his first mathematical opportunity to become world champion this weekend. The 20-year-old has won eight Grands Prix in 2026 and could become the youngest champion in Formula 1 history.
Asked how he felt about seeing the driver who replaced him at Mercedes approaching a world championship, Hamilton recalled that Antonelli had already been involved with the team before his departure for Ferrari at the end of 2024.
“I mean, when I was there, I knew who was going to be replacing me. So Kimi was around the team, following us a lot, particularly in the last year that I was there. And I think it was the right decision to create an opportunity for a young and up-and-coming driver,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton praises Antonelli and Mercedes decision to promote young driver
Hamilton spent 12 seasons with Mercedes between 2013 and 2024, winning six of his seven world championships with the German manufacturer before moving to Ferrari in 2025. His departure created an opportunity for Antonelli, who stepped directly into a race seat after an accelerated progression through the junior categories.
The Briton explained that Antonelli had already impressed Mercedes with his performances in the feeder series, as well as his attitude and integration into the team.
“Kimi had shown his abilities in a lot of categories and his enthusiasm and his charm and his good approach, as I said, to everything. He was always fitting really well into the environment,” Hamilton continued.
The Ferrari driver also highlighted the importance of Antonelli’s partnership with Peter Bonnington, known as Bono, who worked as Hamilton’s race engineer throughout his Mercedes career before taking on the same role with the Italian.
“Getting to work alongside Bono is such an amazing experience, but they’ve got so many great people in that team. And that’s the reason why they are where they are,” Hamilton said.
Mercedes has enjoyed a remarkable 2026 campaign, with Antonelli leading the Drivers’ Championship and the manufacturer heading the Constructors’ standings. The team’s strong start to the new technical regulations provided the foundation for Antonelli’s title challenge, although Red Bull has become increasingly competitive in recent races.
Hamilton said Mercedes’ return to the front of Formula 1 did not surprise him, given his experience working with the organisation.
“And I have, honestly, such admiration for what they do. And to see them back at the top is no surprise to me because I got to experience it for many, many years there,” he added.
Hamilton says Antonelli deserves F1 championship after handling pressure
Hamilton also addressed the challenge Antonelli faced when joining Mercedes as a teenager, particularly because he was stepping into the seat vacated by the most successful driver in the team’s modern history.
The British driver acknowledged that adapting to Formula 1 is difficult for any newcomer, especially within an organisation carrying the expectations associated with Mercedes.
Antonelli endured a demanding rookie season in 2025 before emerging as the leading driver in the championship during his second year. His performances in 2026 have included eight victories and six additional podium finishes across the first 17 Grands Prix.
Hamilton praised the way the Italian has handled the demands of the team and the pressure surrounding his position.
“And I think in his first year, it’s tough for anybody going into a seat like that, into a team like that, and getting up and running with all the expectations that are on your shoulders, all the things you have to commit, all those sorts of things,” Hamilton said.
“But I think he’s really taken it in his stride. And it’s been really great to see his performances this year. It’s massively impressive. And he deserves to be the champion.”
Hamilton’s assessment comes as Antonelli prepares for a weekend in which he could secure his first Formula 1 championship with five rounds remaining.
Antonelli can clinch F1 title in Austin with help from Russell and Hamilton
Antonelli must win Sunday’s United States Grand Prix, with Russell finishing ninth or lower and Hamilton fifth or lower, to secure the championship in Austin under the current points standings and countback scenarios.
Hamilton is third in the championship with 229 points, 111 behind Antonelli, while Max Verstappen remains in contention after consecutive victories in Malaysia and Singapore.
The Ferrari driver therefore occupies an unusual position in the title calculation. Despite publicly backing Antonelli, Hamilton could delay the Italian’s championship celebration by finishing fourth or higher, even if the Mercedes driver wins and Russell finishes outside the top eight.
Antonelli could become the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history, surpassing the record Sebastian Vettel established with Red Bull in 2010.
The full mathematical scenarios are detailed in what Antonelli needs to become F1 world champion at the United States Grand Prix.
The Italian enters the weekend seeking his ninth victory of 2026, while Hamilton returns to a circuit where he has won five times. The Ferrari driver will also evaluate the latest aerodynamic updates introduced by the Italian manufacturer for the Austin weekend.
GRANDE PRÊMIO is following every session of the United States Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas this weekend, with breaking news, full coverage and real-time updates in its Formula 1 section.
