Lewis Hamilton Says Kimi Antonelli “deserves to be the champion”

Lewis Hamilton Endorses Kimi Antonelli Ahead of Formula 1 Title Decider

Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has delivered high praise for his Mercedes successor, Kimi Antonelli, as the sophomore driver moves within touching distance of claiming his maiden drivers’ crown. Heading into the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Antonelli commands a 102-point lead over his Mercedes teammate George Russell, while Hamilton trails 111 points adrift in third. The points gap means Antonelli can wrap up the world championship as early as this weekend if he secures victory and his British rivals endure setbacks.

Antonelli was fast-tracked into Mercedes’ race seat after Hamilton decided to switch to Ferrari for the 2025 season. The graduation marked the first time in nearly two decades that a driver made their full-time Formula 1 debut directly with a front-running team. While his rookie season in 2025 at just 18 years old proved demanding and featured occasional errors against the more experienced Russell, Antonelli’s 2026 campaign has developed into a dominant run. Through 17 rounds, the Italian driver has captured six pole positions and eight grand prix victories—including a stunning charge from 19th on the grid to win his home race at Monza. No other competitor on the grid has collected more than three grand prix wins this year.

Hamilton on Mercedes’ Transition and Antonelli’s Poise

Reflecting on how his former team managed the driver succession and Antonelli’s meteoric trajectory, Hamilton expressed full support for the Silver Arrows’ decision to promote youth.

Hamilton recalled: I mean, when I was there, I knew who was going to be replacing me. Kimi was around the team, following us a lot, particularly in the last year that I was there.

And I think it was the right decision to create an opportunity for a young and up-and-coming driver. Kimi had shown his abilities in the lower categories and his enthusiasm, his charm and his good approach to everything. He was always fitting really well into the environment.

In his first year, it’s tough for anybody going into a seat like that, into a team like that, and getting up and running with all the expectations on your shoulders, the things you have, the commitment you have, all those sorts of things. But he’s really taken it in his stride. It’s been really great to see his performances this year. It’s massively impressive, and he deserves to be the champion.

When asked humorously if he had any tips or guidance for the championship leader heading into the Austin weekend, Hamilton quipped: Slow down.

On a more serious note, Hamilton added: No, I don’t know. He doesn’t need any advice. He’s shown this year – and also last year, but particularly this year – his talent and his ability, his calmness and his approach. He’s done an amazing job this year, and I’m so proud of him. I’m so proud of the way he’s carried himself, how he interacts with the drivers and even with you guys [the media]. It’s great to see him and the team excel. If it’s not my team, I’d always want to see my old team do well.

The Crucial Mercedes Support System and Parallels to McLaren

Antonelli’s consistency has been a defining feature of the 2026 season. Aside from a battery failure in Barcelona, a broken wheel shield at Silverstone, and an off-pace weekend in Baku where the driver acknowledged he “drove like his grandmother,” he has stood on the podium at every single round. Hamilton noted that he was not caught off guard by Antonelli’s rise, pointing directly to the organizational infrastructure Mercedes provides its drivers.

I already knew the support structure they would bring around him. Bono [race engineer Peter Bonnington] is amazing at really putting his arm around you and supporting you, as are Shov [trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin] and Simon [Cole, chief engineer] and everyone in the team, Hamilton explained.

Toto is exceptional at what he does and the environment he creates and the people he puts around him. I also had a similar sort of experience when I got to Mercedes, and the same at McLaren.

I know that was a question people were asking, whether or not I would be able to deliver, especially alongside a double world champion. And I see similarities between how my first year and first couple of years went and how Kimi has approached this year.

But it’s not something just one individual randomly does. You also have to have those pieces of the puzzle around you, supporting you. I was very lucky to have that at McLaren, and it’s great that he has it there.

Nonetheless, the Ferrari driver stressed that execution behind the wheel remains solely the driver’s responsibility. I guess you never know how anyone’s going to do under pressure until you see them, Hamilton concluded. I could assume that he was going to be fine with the weight you have on you when you have to do all these appearances and all these things pulled left, right and centre. But he’s taken it in his stride, and he’s a relatively old soul in that young body, I would say.

Why This Matters

Kimi Antonelli’s potential coronation in Austin represents a historic milestone for Formula 1’s modern era. Promoting an 18-year-old rookie directly into a front-running manufacturer seat was viewed as a high-risk gamble by Team Principal Toto Wolff following Hamilton’s high-profile departure to Ferrari. Antonelli’s swift ascension to title favorite in only his second season validates Mercedes’ long-term junior driver program and mirrors Hamilton’s own explosive debut era in 2007. If Antonelli closes out the championship at the United States Grand Prix, it will cement one of the fastest transitions from junior karting prodigy to world champion in the history of elite motorsport.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can Kimi Antonelli win the Formula 1 World Championship in Austin?

Kimi Antonelli enters the United States Grand Prix with a 102-point lead over George Russell and a 111-point advantage over Lewis Hamilton. He can mathematically seal the drivers’ title this weekend if he wins the grand prix and his two closest challengers fail to score sufficient points to keep the mathematical fight alive.

How many races has Antonelli won during the 2026 season?

Antonelli has taken eight victories and six pole positions across 17 rounds in 2026. This includes a notable win at Monza from 19th on the starting grid. No other driver has won more than three races during the campaign.

Which key team members at Mercedes did Lewis Hamilton highlight?

Lewis Hamilton praised team boss Toto Wolff alongside engineering leaders Peter “Bono” Bonnington, trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin, and chief engineer Simon Cole for providing the robust environment that has helped Antonelli flourish under pressure.