Kimi Antonelli reveals changed F1 approach after title success
Kimi Antonelli will debut an altered approach to F1 this weekend after sealing the 2026 title last time out in Mexico.
Despite having the title in the bag, four races remain on this year’s schedule.
Antonelli ‘more relaxed’ in Brazil approach
Antonelli can enjoy the final events of the year, knowing he’s already secured his maiden championship success.
With this pressure removed, the Italian can feel freer in both the car and the paddock, with others around him, who are still involved in battles of their own, having far more to lose when duelling on the track.
“Definitely, on track, now I will not be as tense,” said Antonelli.
“Definitely, now that the championship is done, and I think I will be able to enjoy even more the driving.
“But the thing, the important thing is going to be not to relax too much. You know, now that I won the championship, that the championship is done on that side, it’s going to be important to still be on point, have the same intensity, but of course enjoy more as well.
“And of course, we’ve still got a Constructors’ Championship to win because this is very important for the team, and it would be very nice to clinch it this weekend.”
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To take the Constructors’ crown on Sunday, Mercedes must outscore Ferrari by three points. Should Antonelli and George Russell fail in this, the battle would continue to Las Vegas, where the onus would be on Ferrari to significantly outscore Mercedes.
“On my side, I will just try to think about winning the race,” added Antonelli.
“I’m going to try to make sure that I still go on track with the same determination and intensity, same hunger, but of course more relaxed. But not too much. Not too much.”
Although you wouldn’t have known it from his performance in Mexico, Antonelli had been unwell across the event. This, however, was largely cured by his championship victory.
“I feel better,” he confirmed in Brazil.
“I think all the viruses after Sunday night went away after the celebrations. I think they left my body, so I definitely feel better.
“But no, I’m still, you know, recovering a bit, but I feel better than in Mexico. Definitely in Mexico, I wasn’t feeling well all weekend, so definitely I feel better on that side.
“Not 100%, but I think this is a bit with everyone. You know, triple headers are usually quite demanding.”
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