Raikkonen backs Antonelli to become youngest F1 world champion

Kimi Raikkonen has thrown his support behind namesake Kimi Antonelli, backing the 19-year-old Mercedes driver to become the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history — while issuing a pointed warning about the pitfalls that derailed Oscar Piastri's title challenge last season.

Four Wins and a Growing Lead

No driver in the history of the sport has ever claimed the world championship before their 23rd birthday. Antonelli, born in 2006, would lift the trophy at just 19 years old if he can sustain his current form. The statistics alone make the prospect extraordinary; the manner in which he is accumulating them makes it feel increasingly plausible.

Raikkonen's Verdict: 'He's Certainly Really Good'

In a rare interview with journalist Leo Turrini, Raikkonen — the 2007 F1 world champion — offered a candid and characteristically understated assessment of the driver who shares his name.

"Naturally, I follow Antonelli's exploits with great sympathy," Raikkonen said. "It amuses me that he shares my name, even though I think I've realised it's a trivial coincidence. He's certainly really good."

The Finn was unequivocal about the merit behind Antonelli's results, dismissing any suggestion that machinery alone explains the young driver's dominance.

"Obviously, in Formula 1, you don't win four consecutive Grands Prix unless you have special talent. Antonelli's numbers are a feat. Having the right car is crucial, but it's always been like that, in every era."

Raikkonen was equally struck by Antonelli's mentality — the composure and conviction that has characterised his performances through a title fight that would buckle many drivers far older and more experienced.

"Yes, and he believes it, you can see it in the way he approaches the races, in the spirit he puts into it."

The Piastri Warning

Yet Raikkonen's endorsement came with a cautionary note, one grounded in recent memory. Last season, Oscar Piastri appeared on course for his maiden championship, holding a 34-point lead with 10 races remaining. What followed was a sobering collapse — a sequence of crashes and below-par performances that eventually saw him finish third in the standings, 13 points behind teammate Lando Norris.

For Raikkonen, that implosion is the benchmark Antonelli must avoid.

"Antonelli won't lose focus; he's showing maturity. He'll have to avoid imitating the Piastri of 2025. At one point, the Australian McLaren driver seemed to have the title in the bag, but he couldn't handle the pressure. The Italian won't fall into the same trap."

With Mercedes navigating the internal dynamic between Antonelli and Russell running in the background, the pressure on Antonelli will only intensify as the season progresses. Whether he can manage that environment with the same assurance he has shown on track remains the defining question of this title race.

A Name That Is No Coincidence — Or Is It?

For those unfamiliar with the backstory, the shared name between the two drivers is not the result of deliberate homage. Antonelli's full first name is actually Andrea, though he has gone by 'Kimi' — his middle name — since entering Formula 1. The driver himself has confirmed the name was not inspired by the Finnish champion. It was given to him by a family friend, who thought it fitted well with his other names.

Antonelli, born in 2006, would have been a young child during the latter stages of Raikkonen's career. His most vivid memories of the Finn would be from his second stint in F1, which began in 2012. During that period, Raikkonen claimed three race victories but rarely recaptured the brilliance of his earlier years.

Now, with the baton firmly in younger hands, Raikkonen watches on — not as a rival, but as something closer to a quietly invested observer. And his verdict on Antonelli's prospects, delivered with the trademark economy of a man not known for flattery, carries its own particular weight.