Andrea Kimi Antonelli has been the start of the 2026 Formula 1 season so far, having so far toppled Mercedes teammate George Russell.
The Italian teenager leads the Drivers’ Championship by 50 points from Lewis Hamilton, with Russell a further nine points adrift.
Antonelli’s sharp trajectory in form is a world away from where he was this time last season, entering the summer break off the back of a wretched run of results.
The pressure placed upon his shoulders, as well as a temperamental W16, saw Antonelli languishing and floundering, with some predicting he was not yet ready for F1.
But, according to former F1 star Thierry Boutsen, Antonelli’s progression is far from over, and will likely start to drive more in the style of Russell as his matures.
“I think if you take George from his first F1 season, he would have been as aggressive as Kimi,” the three-time Grand Prix-winner told the F1 website.
“But he’s learned a lot, he’s calmed down also, he’s got more maturity. He races a totally different way. I believe that Kimi will be the same in three, four years. He will drive very differently to today.
“Today, he’s very aggressive and takes every single opportunity, although sometimes it is like Canada, where he went off a few times. Track limits as well.
“It’s very different moments in their careers that would explain the difference. For the long run, I don’t know who’s going to win. It’s very difficult to say. They’re both very, very good drivers.”
Antonelli will be hoping to take the momentum of his impressive streak into the second half of the season, and secure his place in history as the sport’s youngest-ever World Champion.
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