Antonelli says he was not always mentally ready despite trusting his F1 car

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The championship leader says he sometimes trusted his car without feeling mentally ready, and tries not to dwell on the title at home.

From the GPBeat newsroomPublished · 22 Oct 2026, 14:50 · 1 min

Kimi Antonelli says there were moments in the 2026 Formula 1 season when he trusted his car but did not feel mentally ready. Ahead of the United States Grand Prix, he led the championship by 102 points with six races remaining and could clinch the title in Austin.

Speaking to The Athletic, Antonelli looked back on his first home race at Monza in 2025. He said worries about too many things left him mentally exhausted early in the weekend. During the 2026 season, he felt much more protected.

The 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix was another difficult weekend: Antonelli said he was not mentally at his best there. He made a mistake in qualifying and finished fifth in the race. He said that talent and knowing how to drive quickly can count for little when a driver is not mentally present.

At home, Antonelli tries not to think too much about the championship. He said that doing so would put unnecessary pressure on him and make it harder to relax; instead, he keeps things quiet and occupies himself with everyday activities.

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