Mercedes shields Kimi Antonelli as his 2026 F1 surge continues

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said the outfit is deliberately shielding 18‑year‑old rookie Kimi Antonelli from media and marketing exposure after a challenging debut season in 2025. Wolff noted that Antonelli’s experience last year helped him adapt, and the team now aims to protect his development while he delivers consistent performances in the 2026 Formula 1 campaign.

Antonelli, who has won five consecutive races and leads the drivers’ standings by a large margin, rejected frequent comparisons to Ayrton Senna, stating, “I’m still very far from his level.” He acknowledged the pressure these parallels create but emphasized his focus on improving and achieving the championship, despite a recent reliability failure that forced him to retire from the Spanish Grand Prix.