Antonelli acknowledges the opportunity for the title, but Russell has the advantage.

      "Experience is my greatest weakness"

      Kimi Antonelli believes he has the potential to compete for the 2026 world championship but concedes that teammate George Russell has the upper hand. The 19-year-old Mercedes driver, who is now the youngest leader in Formula 1 championship history, adopted a measured tone in interviews with Bild and Sky Italia during the April break.

      "Yes, absolutely," Antonelli responded to Bild when asked if his rapid rise feels surreal. "It’s astonishing how much attention I’ve received. I bought the newspapers the next day, read them, and I plan to keep them. Of course, it’s enjoyable and feels rewarding, but it can also be risky. It’s easy to lose your focus and get swept up in the celebration when everyone is praising you. I've also noticed that expectations of me have changed significantly. This is why I no longer use social media on race weekends to avoid feeling extra pressure. The reality is, there are still 19 races remaining. I want to achieve more than just one victory. My ultimate aim is to be a contender for the title at the season's end and ultimately win it."

      Despite his confidence, Antonelli candidly recognized his biggest limitation. "Experience is my greatest weakness compared to drivers like George, that’s for sure. It’s not something you can buy. However, I’m confident that I would still have a chance if the opportunity presented itself. I’ve been preparing for this for many years, and my victory has proven I can outperform anyone when I reach my potential. But to do that, I need to solidify the fundamentals."

      In a separate conversation with Sky Italia, Antonelli expressed his frustration about the enforced break in April. "Definitely, it’s unfortunate to have such a long break, but at the same time, I’m not overly complaining because it allows me to spend several days at home. And that’s important, as the start of the season has been quite intense."

      Still, he would prefer to be racing. "Yes, I already miss the track. It’s disappointing because we’re in a crucial moment... Ultimately, we’re coming off a strong start to the season. The car is performing really well. This break gives our competitors more chances to catch up."

      Antonelli also revealed he was not entirely satisfied, even after his victory in Suzuka. "Yes, I must admit that I didn’t enjoy the win in Japan as much as I had hoped because I was frustrated with the start. I was very aware that I was lucky despite that. I was genuinely upset about the start; it was shocking and made me feel like tearing my hair out. I’m already working on that."

      He intends to use the break to improve. "Definitely focusing on the simulator for starts. Now I’ll get the steering wheel with all my settings. Let’s just say I’m already contemplating how to enhance my starts."