Lewis Hamilton has joked that he can help Andrea Kimi Antonelli negotiate a new deal with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff to continue with the team in Formula 1 in 2026.
Antonelli was selected to replace Hamilton when the seven-time F1 champion made the decision to end his decorated spell with Mercedes to agree a move to Ferrari.
The Italian has endured a mixed rookie season as teething technical issues during the European leg have hamstrung his bid to build on his maiden podium in Canada.
Along with his team-mate George Russell, Antonelli isn’t guaranteed to remain with Mercedes in 2026 amid Wolff’s renewed discussions with Max Verstappen’s camp.
When Antonelli was asked to deliver an update on his prospects, Hamilton intervened to remark that he can ensure that his successor strikes the best deal with Wolff.
“I can help you with the contract. I know how to work Toto,” Hamilton, who won six titles under Wolff’s watch at Mercedes, told media including Motorsport Week.
But with Wolff having since expressed his intention to run an unchanged driver line-up next season, Antonelli has repeated that the speculation has not unsettled him.
“I’ve never been worried, to be honest,” Antonelli said prior to the Belgian Grand Prix. “I know the situation. I know what the team wants, especially looking at the future.
“Also, Toto has been clear recently, so that’s obviously good to see.
“But the team is working well. The line-up is good. Me and George are working well together.
“We’re trying to help the team to find performance again. I think we’re doing a good job, and there’s a really good atmosphere in the team.
“It’s always nice to go back to the factory and see how much the team is pushing—not only for this year but also ahead of next year.
“This means there’s a good dynamic in the team. I’m sure the team knows what’s best, especially for next year, and I’m pretty confident that I’m in a good position.”
Antonelli outlines areas to improve in rookie season
Besides attempting to minimise the mistakes such as his opening-lap crash with Max Verstappen in Austria, Antonelli is aiming to improve his pace over a single lap.
“I think the European season hasn’t gone very well – I think it’s gone pretty badly,” Antonelli, who lies three places and 84 points behind team-mate Russell, recognised.
“A few mistakes on my side and then we had a couple of issues as well.
“I’m still trying to learn a lot and gather all the information because sometimes, especially when you have back-to-back races, it’s a bit difficult to put all the information that you get over a weekend together and try to put what you learn on track right after. So, it’s been a bit challenging.
“Also, on my side, I think qualifying has been a bit weak, but it’s more for me about trying to put it all together, especially when you get to the point where you have to find the last couple of tenths, I think I’ve not been that good on trying to do the right step.
“Overall, it’s still been quite positive because I’ve been learning a lot and we’ve got some good results.
“But now the second half of the season is important to do the step and find more consistency myself.”
READ MORE – How Valtteri Bottas is helping to guide Kimi Antonelli through his rookie F1 season
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