Kimi Antonelli, the 20-year-old leader of this year’s Formula 1 drivers’ championship, remains grounded amid the intense pressures of competing at racing’s highest level. As he prepares to race at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, Antonelli stands on the cusp of securing the championship, which would make him F1’s youngest world champion by three years.
Despite his rapid rise—now in his second season with Mercedes and having replaced seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton—Antonelli maintains a low-key lifestyle and embraces routines that help him stay focused. Among these rituals is hand-washing his personal Mercedes GT63 road car, a task he approaches meticulously and uses as a form of relaxation away from the racetrack. “It’s a way for me to relax and just think about something else,” Antonelli said in a recent interview. He prefers washing his car by hand instead of using automated machines and ensures it is dried carefully to maintain its appearance.
Antonelli also enjoys simple activities such as going to supermarkets, movie theaters, or pubs with friends to watch sports, underscoring his commitment to living a relatively normal life despite the demands of his racing career. He credits these moments with helping him disconnect from the high-pressure environment of racing weekends.
The season has tested Antonelli’s mental resilience. After a difficult midseason run last year that sowed self-doubt, he used the off-season to reassess his approach and improve his mindset. He acknowledged that distractions, particularly during the Italian Grand Prix—a race on home soil where intense fan and sponsor attention stretched his focus—affected his performance. This year, he says he feels mentally better prepared and more protected from such pressures.
Even with eight wins and 15 podium finishes from 18 races so far, Antonelli has identified occasions where his mental focus wavered, such as a fifth-place finish in Azerbaijan following a crash in qualifying. “You can be very talented... but if mentally you’re not there on point, everything vanishes,” he remarked.
Within Mercedes, Antonelli has avoided internal conflicts, despite a tight championship fight with teammate George Russell. Team officials note that his grounded personality is sustained by support from family and the team. “His feet are very firmly on the ground,” said Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord, while highlighting Antonelli’s growing self-belief.
Antonelli has also established distinctive team traditions, such as giving high-fives to every crew member before races to foster inclusion and motivation. A unique superstition has developed involving helmet visor tear-offs, which he passes to race engineer Pete Bonnington, with positive messages left on each strip throughout the weekend.
Outside the serious side of racing, Antonelli has engaged in a lighthearted prank war with Bonnington, involving water guns and hot sauce, which has extended to the broader Mercedes team. His camaraderie with teammates and staff remains strong, although team principal Toto Wolff remains off-limits for pranks until Antonelli secures a title.
To clinch the championship at Austin, Antonelli must win while Russell finishes ninth or lower, a challenging scenario given the competitiveness of the season. Should the title slip from reach there, Mexico or Brazil are likely venues for his coronation. Either way, Antonelli’s trajectory from a promising youngster signed by Mercedes at age 11 to potential F1 champion is one marked by rapid progress and mental maturation.
“I wouldn’t have expected to be a contender like this this season,” Antonelli said. “I’m very happy, very grateful to be in this position, and I’ve got to keep pushing.” As the season’s climax approaches, Antonelli remains focused on his performance while drawing strength from everyday routines and the supportive environment around him.