Antonelli's Historic Start to the 2026 F1 Season

Kimi Antonelli has made history in the 2026 F1 season by achieving the strongest points-scoring start in a decade, matching the achievements of past drivers like Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton. His recent victory in Miami marks his third consecutive win, drawing praise from team principal Toto Wolff.

Antonelli, the 19-year-old Italian driver, has already become the youngest-ever championship leader after his second victory in Japan and a third consecutive win in Miami. This feat is particularly significant as it marks the first time a driver has converted their first three pole positions into three consecutive wins. With 100 points to his name, Antonelli has mirrored the achievements of Nico Rosberg in 2016, who also earned 100 points by the fourth round of the championship.

Rosberg's run in 2016 was notable for his back-to-back wins in Australia, Bahrain, China, and Russia, but his campaign was disrupted by a collision with Lewis Hamilton in Barcelona. In contrast, Antonelli's performance has been consistent, with a P2 in Australia and P5 and P6 in the China and Miami Sprints, bringing his total score to 100 points. This consistency has drawn comparisons to Lewis Hamilton's 2021 season, where he also achieved a strong start with three victories and one second place in the first four rounds.

Team principal Toto Wolff has praised Antonelli's performance, particularly highlighting his victory in Miami as his best race so far. Despite facing challenges such as slow starts and downshifting issues, Antonelli managed to secure his third consecutive win, edging out Lando Norris of McLaren. Wolff noted that the young driver's ability to handle pressure and maintain composure is reminiscent of his karting days in Formula 4.

However, Wolff also acknowledged the need to keep Antonelli grounded, as the young driver's success has been rapid and unexpected. "That is the risk that he's being carried away too quickly," Wolff said. "We know that the parents are going to keep him grounded. This year, it's coming together. I don't think that any of us would have expected this kind of run. We've given him a car that is very good, and an engine that is right, but how he's been able to monetise on that every single weekend is special."

As the season progresses, all eyes are on Antonelli to see if he can follow in the footsteps of Rosberg and Hamilton and potentially become the youngest-ever World Champion. The competition is fierce, with teams like McLaren, Red Bull, and Ferrari closing the gap, but Antonelli's current trajectory suggests he is on the right path to making history.

With the remaining 18 rounds of the season ahead, the F1 community is eagerly watching to see if Antonelli can maintain his dominance and achieve the historic title of youngest-ever World Champion.