F1 is entering a new era of technical rules. Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes would not be angry if the scenario of 2014 was repeated, when the German team used the change of regulations to great dominance.
As far as the F1 2026 season is concerned, there are a lot of question marks hanging in the air. Will the changes related to power units and single-seaters work? Which team or manufacturer will gain the upper hand at the start of the new rules cycle?
We will have to wait for these answers until the first tests or the first grand prix of the season, which will take place in March in Melbourne.
However, looking back, it was the Mercedes team that gained a large performance advantage in the last engine rule change. And although the situation is a bit different now, given that new cars are also entering the game, there is widespread speculation that it could once again be Mercedes who will do best at the start of the new era.
Those who would be happy about such a scenario are, of course, the pilots who will be using engines from Mercedes.
Among them, in addition to those from the Alpine, Williams and McLaren stables, will be the factory drivers of the German car manufacturer, including the young Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
In this context, he let it be known that repeating the scenario from 2014 would be a dream from his point of view.
“I hope it’s like 2014. That would be a dream!” said Antonelli, quoted by GPBlog.com.
“But you never know. I think these are even bigger changes in the rules than in 2014, because everything is changing – on the chassis side, aerodynamics, just everything. But I have full confidence in Mercedes and in the work they are doing,” said the competitor, who only celebrated his eighth birthday in 2014.
And even though Mercedes still cannot be sure that its new engine, as well as the car, will be really competitive, the native of Bologna admitted that he has positive indications so far.
“I’ve spent quite a lot of time in the factory, I’ve seen progress in the wind tunnel, I’ve seen progress on the dyno. It looks promising, but we don’t know what others are doing,” admits Antonelli, who says reliability will be the most important factor initially.
“I think the most important thing is that we have a reliable car at the first tests in Barcelona. That’s what will bring us the most experience. As for the actual performance, we’ll see. But of course, when I look at what the team has achieved in the past, it would be great (to do it again). It would be like a dream to be in the same situation and be able to fight for the championship,” added the Mercedes driver.
