Kimi Antonelli has revealed his relief and frustration at upcoming mandatory Formula 1 summer shutdown ahead of this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
Antonelli has enjoyed a ultra competitive season in 2026, winning six of the opening ten races, building up a 45 points advantage at the top of the drivers’ standings.
The W17 has proven to be the standout package of the year, in the running for victories at almost every circuit, with Antonelli taking full advantage.
But F1 is fast approaching its mandatory summer shutdown, which, in the past, has swung the pendulum of momentum towards rivals.
Antonelli has confessed his relief at a break from F1’s relentless schedule, highlighted the importance of momentum during a title run.
“Well, I mean, I feel like it’s needed, the break”, he said to media on Thursday in Hungary.
“Because it’s been almost eight months flat out. I mean, if I look back, I think I started the activities on the 3rd of January this season. So it was pretty flat out.
“To be fair, also, before Miami, so after Japan, I thought, ‘oh my God, like four weeks break’. You know, just coming off Japan with momentum, race win.
“And I was like, ‘oh my God, it’s like, I actually might lose the momentum’ because four weeks is a lot. But then, you know, I remember going in Miami FP1, feeling great in the car.”
“I was like, ‘OK, maybe I didn’t lose the momentum’ .So I feel like the momentum is still gonna be there. And of course, there’s still a weekend to do. And we want to do really well.
Antonelli revealed, in a very unique manner. that he expects boredom to kick in not long after the summer shutdown begins.
“But I feel like the break is needed. To have a proper break, to be able to switch off a little bit. Even though I’m sure after three, four days, I’m going to be busting my balls. I’m gonna be bored.
“And I’m going to be like, ‘I want to be back on track’. Luckily, where I’m going, there’s a go-kart track.
“So for sure, I’m gonna be practising. But yeah, I feel like on the other side, it’s needed to just, you know, disconnect a little bit. Go out, enjoy a bit of time with the family, with the friends. And just recharge overall, the body, the mind, in order to be ready for the second half.”
Is Kimi Antonelli the best driver in F1 in 2026?
Asked whether he believes he is now the best driver on the grid as a result of his momentum this year, Antonelli chose to praise his team.
“It’s so hard to say.I think I’ve been one of the best, but I wouldn’t say I’ve been the best driver on the grid.
“But to be fair, if I look back, I think we were the ones doing the least amount of mistakes.
“And I think what brought us here now allowed us to get good results.
Of course, we’ve had a really strong car as well. But as well, I think on my side, what I can be happy about going into summer break, of course, there’s still this weekend to finish off well.
“But I think execution-wise, together with the team, we’ve done an incredible job.And that allowed us to put ourselves in a position. So I think on that side, we did really well in this first half.”
Antonelli is understandably conflicted at the prospect of the summer shutdown. He fully accepts the break is needed, but does not want to lose momentum that he has very much earned and leaned into.
The next test for the championship leader in his maiden title run will likely come when the sport reconvenes in Zandvoort. Signing off the first half of the season with a win could prove vital, not just for his points tally, but for his own pendulum of momentum.
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