Mercedes chief reveals awe for Kimi Antonelli’s off-track action that exceeds his ‘meteoric rise’

Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord praised Andrea Kimi Antonelli for his off-track conduct with an autism charity, alongside his impressive on-track performances in 2026. Lord highlighted Antonelli's compassionate interaction with children from Milan-based charity PizzAut Onlus in Austria, explaining that the 20-year-old Italian driver made the participants feel like pole-sitters and winners.

Antonelli enters the 2026 United States Grand Prix with eight race wins and six pole positions, positioning him to potentially become the youngest-ever Formula 1 world champion. Lord admitted that while Mercedes anticipated Antonelli's strong potential, his rapid rise in his second season has exceeded internal expectations.