Lewis Hamilton on Kimi Antonelli: How one champion rates another

It’s rather ironic: Lewis Hamilton dreams of an eighth world championship title to surpass the great Michael Schumacher, but now, of all people, his Mercedes successor Kimi Antonelli stands in his way.

On 1 November 2026, the 20-year-old Italian Kimi Antonelli will write a new chapter in Formula 1 history: In all likelihood, on this day he will become the youngest world champion in the premier class in 77 years; at the time of winning the title, he will be more than three years younger than Sebastian Vettel was in Abu Dhabi in 2010.

As if that weren’t ironic enough: the very two drivers who (purely mathematically) could still prevent Antonelli from winning the title are on the front row of the grid at the Mexican Grand Prix – Lewis Hamilton (his first Grand Prix pole with Ferrari) and Kimi’s Mercedes team-mate and title rival, George Russell.

The two Englishmen know full well that the World Championship is long and gone. Even if one of them wins, the young man from Bologna needs a mere two World Championship points to secure the title.

A look at the 2026 season shows that, apart from races in which Kimi was set back by mechanical failures or collisions, he has never finished lower than fifth.

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Soon-to-be world champion Kimi Antonelli: The inevitable will then follow in Mexico

The 20-year-old Italian Kimi Antonelli had the chance to secure the 2026 World Championship title at the US Grand Prix. He did everything right: victory in Texas. The title celebrations have nevertheless been postponed. Until Mexico.

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FIA Formula One World Championship

01.11.2026 - 23:15

Lewis Hamilton in the paddock at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez: “Kimi simply has to do what he’s been doing all season – focus on one race at a time and always try to achieve the best possible result. He’ll continue to drive as brilliantly as he has all year.”

“As for me, I naturally want to win, but above all I want to help ensure we secure second place in the Constructors’ Championship.”

George Russell adds: “It’s inevitable that Kimi will win the title, most likely this weekend. I want to finish the season strongly. I’d long since written off the title.”

Lewis Hamilton has secured the title here in Mexico twice, in 2017 and 2018, with Mercedes. Now it’s the young Kimi’s turn. Hamilton goes on to say: “For me, it’s brilliant to see a young driver like Kimi go from being a little kid standing at the back of the garage hoping for an autograph, all the way to Formula 1, where he’s replacing me in a team I drove for many years and loved.”

“Kimi’s career is truly remarkable. He had a tough, challenging first year in Formula 1, and then this improvement in 2026, in a season in which he’s been almost flawless.”

“Sebastian Vettel said it himself – records are there to be broken. I think it’s brilliant that he’ll be the youngest champion of all time. It’s simply phenomenal what he’s achieved at such a young age.”

“Kimi Antonelli has a bright future ahead of him. I’m grateful to be racing in an era where I can witness something like this. I really hope we’ll have some good battles in the future, because that didn’t really happen this year. He’s usually just flown away from us on the straights. I hope we can give him a bit more of a run for his money next year and that it really comes down to racing skill.”