Kimi Antonelli Reveals 'Dream' 2026 Scenario for Mercedes

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli has revealed his "dream" scenario for the 2026 Formula 1 season: a repeat of the team's dominant 2014 campaign. With massive technical regulations resetting the competitive landscape, Antonelli is hopeful Mercedes can once again leapfrog the opposition. He has expressed full confidence in the team's progress at the factory, acknowledging the challenge ahead.

Why it matters:

• The 2026 season represents one of the biggest rule changes in F1 history, with both chassis and power unit regulations overhauled simultaneously.
• A team that nails the new rules from the start could establish a multi-year advantage, similar to what Mercedes achieved in 2014.
• For Antonelli, entering his second season, a front-running car is crucial to solidify his status and launch a genuine title bid.

The details:

• Antonelli stated his ideal start would be "like 2014 – will be the dream," referencing Mercedes' turbo-hybrid dominance that year.
• He noted the 2026 changes are "even bigger regulation changes than 2014" because they impact both aerodynamics and the power unit.
• The young driver has spent significant time at the Brackley and Brixworth facilities, calling the progress on the new car "promising."
• He tempered expectations, emphasizing that the first Barcelona test's goal is reliability and learning, with true performance only becoming clear at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
• Team Principal Toto Wolff echoed the uncertainty, admitting it's "super difficult to predict" if their targets are ambitious enough, adding that answers are "not far away."

What's next:

• The first pre-season test in Barcelona later this month will provide the initial glimpse into the 2026 pecking order.
• All teams will be focused on reliability and mileage, but any early performance indicators will be heavily scrutinized.
• The real answers will come at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, where Mercedes' 2026 project—and Antonelli's dream—will face its first true test.