Lewis Hamilton says Kimi Antonelli “deserves to be the champion” as the Mercedes rookie closes on a first Formula 1 crown heading into Austin.

Antonelli holds a 102-point advantage over teammate George Russell. Hamilton is 111 behind, creating a scenario where a win in Texas could seal the title if rivals falter.

Hamilton’s 2025 move to Ferrari cleared the path for Antonelli’s fast-tracked debut. He is the first driver in nearly two decades to start as a rookie with a top team.

Hamilton argues the promotion was justified by Antonelli’s ability and mindset. He highlights a composed approach backed by strong fundamentals rather than short-term flashes.

The Italian’s early campaign featured inconsistency against Russell. By 2026, his execution sharpened, underpinned by cleaner weekends and stronger tyre and race management.

Antonelli has six poles and eight wins from 17 races. A signature drive came at Monza, where he won after starting 19th, underscoring racecraft and adaptability.

Only Barcelona, Silverstone, and Baku yielded no podiums. That level of consistency has created scoreboard pressure that rivals have failed to match.

At Barcelona and Silverstone, reliability setbacks hurt him, including a battery failure and broken wheel shield. In Baku, a conservative approach limited his peak performance.

Hamilton offered light-hearted advice to “slow down,” then praised Antonelli’s calm, maturity, and old-soul poise in high-pressure environments.

He also credited Mercedes’ support structure. Race engineer Peter Bonnington, Andrew Shovlin, Simon Cole, and Toto Wolff anchor a stable, proven performance environment.

Hamilton likened that framework to the dependable systems he experienced at McLaren and Mercedes. He stressed the driver still must deliver when it counts.

The rookie has handled scrutiny, media duties, and weekends with minimal volatility, converting opportunities while limiting damage on off-days.

The United States Grand Prix could decide the championship. A win, combined with low scores for Russell and Hamilton, would make the outcome near-irreversible.

Securing the crown would underline Antonelli’s status as a future-shaping force and confirm Mercedes’ succession planning. It would also validate his rapid ascent to F1 world champion contention.

Antonelli has spoken about handling expectations and risk appetite, a theme consistent with his measured progress and standout peaks, echoing insights from his dream-versus-fear reflections.

As Austin looms, the numbers, the form guide, and Hamilton’s endorsement all point in one direction. The final step now depends on execution.

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Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.