Kimi Antonelli is making moves both on and off the track as he prepares for the mental battle of the 2026 Formula 1 title race. Still only in his second year in the sport, the young Italian arrives at the Miami Grand Prix leading the championship—a remarkable achievement that has put him squarely in the spotlight.

Antonelli’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric. He claimed his first pole positions and race wins earlier this season in China and Japan. In China, he became the youngest-ever polesitter and backed it up with a mature, composed victory. In Japan, a well-timed safety car after Oliver Bearman’s crash helped him recover from a slow start to take another win. Those back-to-back triumphs before the April break gave him a nine-point lead over Mercedes teammate George Russell in the standings.

If Antonelli goes on to win the title this year, he’ll become Formula 1’s youngest champion by more than three years—a feat that would cement his place in history. But he knows the road ahead won’t be easy. While Antonelli is confident he can come out on top against Russell, he acknowledges that his teammate’s experience could be a significant factor. Russell, now in his eighth F1 season, made his debut with Williams in 2019 before joining Mercedes and has grown into one of the grid’s most consistent drivers.

To sharpen his mental game, Antonelli is reportedly building a trusted inner circle around him. According to Corriere Della Sera, he’s putting real emphasis on the psychological side of racing, recognizing what it will take to become Italy’s third Formula 1 world champion after Giuseppe Farina (1950) and Alberto Ascari (1952 and 1953). The demanding F1 calendar and the intense attention that comes with leading a title race make this approach not just smart, but essential.

With that in mind, Antonelli recently flew “the whole family” out to Miami to have familiar faces around him during this pivotal time. He believes having trusted people nearby helps offset the external noise and provides a stable foundation outside of racing. In a sport where every second counts, having that support system close by could be the edge he needs to stay focused and finish the job.