Kimi Antonelli has admitted he went through a period of serious self-doubt during his first Formula One season, only a year before becoming the youngest champion in the sport's history.
The Italian made the comments on the Nu Silver Arrows Radio Show in conversation with former F1 driver Anthony Davidson, as reported by Motorsport.com.
Antonelli wrapped up the title last weekend in Mexico, where his nearest challengers were left without even a mathematical chance of catching him with four rounds still remaining. His dominant campaign was a contrast to his debut year, when he arrived in F1 aged 18 and, despite a handful of impressive races, endured a largely difficult season.
That lean spell prompted plenty of observers to wonder whether Mercedes had been too quick to promote him. Antonelli said he shared some of those doubts at the time, admitting he kept questioning himself during the hardest stretch of the 2025 season.
Looking back, however, he said he was glad to have faced those struggles, explaining that the setbacks forced him to mature and develop faster, and exposed him to both the highs and lows of top-level racing.
Antonelli stepped into the seat vacated by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, and has now delivered Mercedes its first drivers' crown since 2020. He acknowledged that placing him directly into a Mercedes was a big gamble, and said the added scrutiny pushed him to learn more quickly.
He singled out the team's unwavering support as key to his recovery. "I still had the full support of the team," he said, adding that knowing nobody's opinion of him had changed despite his underperformance gave him confidence.
Antonelli also expressed gratitude to everyone involved in the Mercedes project that began in 2018. He said a major factor in his success this year was that the team accepted him for who he is, allowing him to enjoy himself at the right moments and then stay fully focused behind the wheel.