Trulli predicts Antonelli as the title winner following a masterful performance in Monaco.

      Jarno Trulli believes that Kimi Antonelli could be ideally positioned to secure the 2026 world championship after becoming the first Italian to triumph at the Monaco GP since Trulli himself did so in 2004. Antonelli’s impeccable win on the streets of Monte Carlo—his fifth straight victory in Formula 1—has sparked increasing enthusiasm in Italy, with Trulli among those asserting that the 19-year-old Mercedes driver is exceptional.

      "Winning at Monte Carlo is not something everyone can achieve," Trulli stated to Corriere dello Sport. "It's a challenging and complex track that requires intense and unwavering focus. If you triumph there, you undoubtedly have something remarkable about you."

      At 51 years old, Trulli confessed he was not taken aback by the outcome. "When asked for my prediction just before the race, I honestly replied: Kimi seems to be in outstanding form, and he has the best car available."

      Trulli noted that Antonelli's youth makes the accomplishment even more commendable. When asked whether a flawless win in Monaco is a sign of predestination for a 19-year-old in his second Formula 1 season, Trulli responded, "Absolutely."

      He believes Antonelli should now concentrate entirely on the championship race. "Formula 1 teaches a tough and beautiful lesson—you must be in the right place at the right time. This is the moment Kimi needs to fiercely contend for the title, as every year presents a unique story. This could truly be his season."

      Trulli suspects that Antonelli’s greatest challenge may not be another driver. "He’s in excellent shape and completely in sync with the car; his only real competitor is himself, especially since Russell, for reasons I cannot elucidate, is struggling to perform."

      The one-time grand prix winner also pondered the distinctive demands of Monaco. "It requires concentration, sensitivity, and courage—it's a combination of all these elements," he remarked. "Monaco does not permit mistakes."

      In a lighter vein, Antonelli recently became the subject of an amusing off-track discussion after viral footage seemingly showed Lewis Hamilton’s new girlfriend, Kim Kardashian, leaving the parc ferme with Hamilton’s fresh podium towel. Mercedes wisely chimed in on the situation by posting a social media compilation that featured Antonelli looking perplexed after washing his hands, cheekily asking, "Have you seen my towel?"