Kimi Antonelli's F1 title hopes assessed after historic championship lead

Former Formula 1 driver and Sky Sports analyst Karun Chandhok believes that Kimi Antonelli is capable of fighting for the 2026 drivers' championship.

Antonelli became the youngest driver to lead the championship after back-to-back wins at the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix. And while the season is long and many have pointed to the issues that his Mercedes team-mate George Russell, viewed by many as the title favourite, faced in the two races, Chandhok has not counted the Italian driver out yet.

When asked if the 19-year-old driver could win the championship during the Sky Sports F1 Show, Chandhok explained: "He can. China had a few caveats because George had a few issues in qualifying, so there were some caveats around Kimi, although his second stint there was outstanding, but in Japan he was the fastest driver all weekend.

"He was the fastest throughout practice. The only mistake he made was a terrible start. He had a slice of luck with the safety car that allowed him to recover it, but his pace all weekend was outstanding.

Karun Chandhok

Photo by: Shameem Fahath

"He had two or three tenths on George all the way through. So based on that form, he is absolutely in a position to win the championship. I'm sure George will have other things to say about it, but I think the short answer is he can. I don't know if he will."

Chandhok's co-host and Sky Sports lead commentator David Croft agreed with the former driver, but urged fans not to put too much pressure on the young Mercedes star. "We're trying very hard not to put pressure on Kimi Antonelli here. Patrick Reed could have won the Masters when he was five under par in the first round and two shots clear, but he didn't because he choked under the pressure of the 33-1 that I had on him on that one.

"So, stop putting Kimi Antonelli under pressure. Yes, he's good enough, but we don't want to talk about it yet."