Kimi Antonelli is weeks, or potentially days, away from winning the Formula 1 World Championship but he learned plenty of lessons along the way.

The first chance for Kimi Antonelli to win the World Championship arrives this weekend at the United States Grand Prix, with the Italian currently boasting a 102-point advantage over Mercedes teammate George Russell.

It has been a remarkable season for the young Italian, who is only in his second year as an F1 driver. In his rookie season, Kimi Antonelli was thrown into the deep end and he has opened up on some of the challenges he faced.

Let’s hear your podium prediction for the United States Grand Prix this weekend! 🇺🇸

Kimi Antonelli now feels more ‘protected’ by Mercedes

Antonelli is set to become the sport’s youngest-ever champion if (when) he scoops the title in the coming weeks.

Arriving on the grid as a teenager with very little experience came with some extreme challenges, including plenty of chaos off the track as well as on it.

As quoted by Racer, Antonelli has revealed how the Grand Prix at Imola last season was a turning point for him in terms of how to manage the outside noise.

“I felt like I mainly needed time to digest, to look at the season again, understand what was good about the season, what was not good. And better understand as well what was good for me and what was not,” Antonelli said.

“For example, last year’s home race, the way it was managed was not good. The way I managed myself this year, I feel like more things are less important, I lean a lot on the people I have around me so they take care of it. So I don’t have to worry about it.

“The only thing I worry about is going on track and doing the best I can. Last year, I was worrying about way too many things, especially at my home race, and that’s why I felt so drained mentally so early into the weekend.

“This year, I felt in a much better place. I felt much more protected. Also because the things that I would try to take care of last year, this year the team was taking care of, the people that work with me, so I could just focus on the important bits. That has been a big thing for me.”

Kimi Antonelli has matured incredibly quickly

Antonelli has gone from a rookie to a champion in the space of a year, and that is a testament to his mentality.

From Antonelli’s Monza crash in his first-ever Mercedes outing, to his nightmare DNF in Imola last year, he has not been without his challenges.

Yet Toto Wolff’s management of Antonelli and his continued support for his young driver is now paying off, and Antonelli has clearly learned how to cope with the pressure and spotlight of being a championship contender.

Clearly Antonelli felt overwhelmed during parts of his rookie season, yet his ability to adapt on and off the track is why he is such a deserving champion in 2026.