Mercedes’ top man Andrew Shovlin sees driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli already holding a significant edge for the 2026 season. The Formula 1 regulations change dramatically next year, but according to Shovlin the young Italian has developed the right ‘mental capacity’ to combine driving with thinking about, among other things, strategy. “I think all the younger drivers who grew up gaming have that,” Shovlin said.
Formula 1 stands on the brink of a wholly new season, one that brings entirely new rules for both the chassis and the power unit. Andrea Kimi Antonelli is about to start his second year in Formula 1. The young Italian grabbed three podiums during his debut season, although he also went through a dip in form during the European rounds.
The Mercedes driver is by now familiar with Formula 1, but he will have to relearn the car in 2026. Andrew Shovlin — trackside technical director — nonetheless believes Kimi Antonelli will quickly get to grips with the new car. “We’re starting to understand Kimi better and better,” Shovlin told the media. “He’s increasingly comfortable within the team. He’s happy with his own performances and we’re keen to see how he gets on in 2026.”
Mental capacity
“Getting used to the rules will really be a matter of practice,” continues the Mercedes chief. “Kimi is still young, though, and he has the impressive ability to spend whole days in the simulator putting in laps.” According to Shovlin, that’s an advantage the driver shares with his peers. “I think all the younger drivers who grew up gaming develop that mental capacity to drive while they talk and joke about everyone they’re racing with. It helps to have that cognitive ability to think while you drive, which pushes the driving into the background. It frees your head to focus on energy, strategy and how you overtake.”
