Charles Leclerc admits he cannot fully explain how Andrea Kimi Antonelli has become so consistently fast in 2026, despite Formula 1 drivers studying one another’s performances as closely as possible. Speaking ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, the Ferrari driver praised the Mercedes youngster’s remarkable step forward after a difficult first season and described his current level as extraordinary.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli has become one of the defining figures of the 2026 Formula 1 season. The 20-year-old from Bologna has confirmed the expectations that surrounded him from a very young age, when he was already dominating in karting and being identified as a driver with the talent to fight for a Formula 1 world championship one day.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli has emerged as the man to beat in 2026
The regulation changes and resulting reshuffling of the competitive order have also played their part, with Mercedes returning to the front of Formula 1. Andrea Kimi Antonelli has taken full advantage, building an increasingly substantial championship lead as the season has progressed.
The situation has reached the point where attention in the paddock is increasingly turning towards when the Mercedes driver could mathematically secure the 2026 title rather than simply whether he can win it. The remaining races can be followed through the 2026 Formula 1 calendar, while the different points permutations can be explored with the F1 Championship Points Calculator.
For his rivals, Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s rise has therefore become something to observe from the outside. One of those trying to understand the scale of the improvement is Charles Leclerc.
Charles Leclerc admits he does not know Kimi Antonelli’s secret
During the press conference ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc was asked what he believed to be the secret behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s performance. The Ferrari driver replied: “What is Kimi’s secret? Well, honestly, I’d like to know that too! Clearly he’s doing something that is working very well, but honestly I don’t think it is entirely a surprise because, if we look at what he did in the junior categories, I think it was quite clear that he had something special.”
Charles Leclerc also reflected on Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s first Formula 1 campaign, acknowledging that the Mercedes youngster had encountered difficulties without claiming to know exactly what caused them.
“In his first year in F1 he then faced some challenges that are not for me to describe in detail, also because I don’t know them, but he definitely struggled a little,” Charles Leclerc explained. “This year, though, he has been truly extraordinary, impressive, perfect from the very first race.”
Charles Leclerc highlights Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s battle with George Russell
Charles Leclerc was particularly impressed by how Andrea Kimi Antonelli has performed alongside George Russell, whom the Ferrari driver rates highly. The level shown against such an established teammate has reinforced Charles Leclerc’s view that Andrea Kimi Antonelli is producing an exceptional season.
“He has driven at an extremely high level against a driver I consider very strong like George Russell, so he is doing an incredible job,” Charles Leclerc continued. “But I can’t say exactly why he is so fast and exceptional compared with last year.”
The Ferrari driver explained that rivals can analyse information from other cars, but the amount of data available to them remains limited. Without detailed telemetry directly from the Mercedes, Charles Leclerc believes it is difficult to understand precisely what Andrea Kimi Antonelli is doing differently.
“It’s really difficult for me and, even though we are all analysing the data of the other drivers, we can only access a limited amount of data,” Charles Leclerc said. “You would therefore need precise data from his car to understand exactly what he is doing.”
Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s on-the-limit driving impresses Charles Leclerc
One aspect has nevertheless stood out to Charles Leclerc when watching the Mercedes driver. Andrea Kimi Antonelli can sometimes appear to be operating right on the limit, yet still produces the speed required at the most important moments.
“It is difficult to say from the outside, but on some laps Kimi Antonelli seems incredibly on the limit, yet somehow he always manages to be fast whenever it really counts,” Charles Leclerc added. “It is impressive to watch.”
The comments arrive as Formula 1 prepares for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where Andrea Kimi Antonelli will attempt to strengthen his championship position while Charles Leclerc and Ferrari try to close the gap. Full timings and weekend information are available in the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix schedule.
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