Lewis Hamilton makes Kimi Antonelli observation after assuming huge F1 ‘burden’

Lewis Hamilton praised his Mercedes successor Kimi Antonelli, describing the Italian driver as an "old soul in a young body" who has handled the pressure and demands of Formula 1 with maturity. Hamilton stated that Mercedes made the right decision in signing Antonelli and expressed strong admiration for his dominant 2026 campaign, noting that he deserves to win the world championship.

Antonelli holds a 102-point lead over teammate George Russell and could secure the title at the United States Grand Prix. Hamilton credited Mercedes' strong internal support system, specifically highlighting race engineer Peter Bonnington, trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin, and chief race engineer Simon Cole for guiding the young driver through immense expectations.