Antonelli highlights issue 'I need to work on' after father provides warning

Relationships between Formula 1 drivers and their fathers can be complicated. Sometimes the latter prefer to adopt a “tough love” approach that can raise a few eyebrows.

Kimi Antonelli and his father Marco could be the poster boys for the opposite approach, such is the apparent closeness of their relationship from the outside.

And yet, as the Mercedes driver revealed on media day in Hungary, his father is also his biggest critic – and isn’t afraid to say what he thinks.

In this case the context was Antonelli’s predilection for making full use of track limits, something he has on occasion been penalised for.

In the Belgian Grand Prix he was pinged a couple of times, and warned by engineer Pete Bonnington not to take any further risks that might jeopardise his lead. After the race Antonelli Sr. made sure that his son took that warning fully on board.

“I guess you guys know I like to use the track sometimes a bit too much,” the 19-year-old told the media. “So it's something that I'm trying to work on. I mean, I look back at Spa and the two track limits I did were very stupid. I was like, ‘What the heck am I doing?’

“It's a bit like Barcelona as well, and Miami. I just feel that it's something I need to work on for sure, because at some point in a race I might need to use them. But if I use them when I don't need to, then I might find myself in trouble. So for sure, it's something that I'm working on.

“And definitely my dad, one of the first things he told me after the race, he said, ‘Congrats, but’ – there’s always a but! He told me, ‘If I see you getting another track limits warning for nothing, I'm going to stretch your neck like a chicken!’ Those were his words. So yeah, it's something I need to definitely work on…”

Antonelli Sr. was joking of course, but the point was well made. On a more serious note, his son also took the opportunity to thank his family, and in particular his father, for helping to put him in the position he is in today as World Championship leader.

“I think the fact of having a great team around me, having a great family around me, has helped me throughout this journey so far,” Antonelli said. “And it’s still doing [that], of course. Obviously, I've been with Mercedes since 2018, so I've been growing up with them, and being able to as well get to know the people more inside out, helps as well in Formula 1.

“Also, having a great relationship with them helps to enjoy the weekend much more, and that allows you as well to be freer. So I think it's all little bits that add to the performance.

“And then of course my family, who have been supporting me all the way. Of course, they still do. But obviously, my dad is kind of like my rock, because we share so many things together, and I always like hearing his point of view after sessions, after a race, after Qualifying, because that's what we've been doing ever since karting.

“And also having someone like him next to me in this journey, especially in a year like this, is very important to have that family support, especially from someone who knows me better than anyone.

“So for sure he is still playing a massive role, and it's also together with the team that helped me to develop, to grow, to mature as a person, and that's also what is making the biggest difference compared to last year, for example.”

Antonelli was also asked whether he thought he was the best driver on the grid in the first half of 2026?

“Well, it's so hard to say,” he replied. “I think I've been one of the best, but I wouldn't say I've been the best driver on the grid. But to be fair, if I look back, I think we were the one doing the least amount of mistakes, and that I think is what brought us here and now allowed us to get good results.

“Of course, we've had a really strong car as well. But I think on my side, what I can be happy about going into summer break – and of course, there's still this weekend to finish off well – I think execution-wise, together with the team, we've done an incredible job, and that allowed us to put ourselves in that position. So I think on that side we did really well in this first half.”