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Hülkenberg: Antonelli’s Rise a ‘Hell of a Story’
123Helmets Editorial Team
Kimi Antonelli’s rise to the top of F1 has been called “a hell of a story” by Nico Hülkenberg, with the Mercedes driver in a position to seal the 2026 title at this weekend’s United States Grand Prix in Austin.
Key Takeaways
Nico Hülkenberg called Kimi Antonelli’s season “a hell of a story” in Austin.
Antonelli leads team-mate George Russell by 102 points in the drivers’ championship.
He could be crowned the youngest champion with a win at the Circuit of the Americas, if Russell is ninth or lower and Lewis Hamilton fifth or lower.
In 2025 Antonelli scored just three points across nine European grands prix.
What did Hülkenberg say about Antonelli?
Nico Hülkenberg described Antonelli’s season as “very, very impressive” and “a hell of a story” when speaking to media in Austin, including RacingNews365.
The Audi driver highlighted how quickly fortunes can change in Formula 1, tying the shift to confidence in the car and in oneself. He added that Antonelli has been “pretty flawless this year”.
Can Antonelli clinch the title in Austin?
Antonelli can win the 2026 drivers’ championship at the United States Grand Prix, but only if several conditions fall his way.
He leads team-mate George Russell by 102 points. To be crowned the youngest champion, he must win at the Circuit of the Americas, Russell must finish ninth or lower, and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton must finish fifth or lower.
After round 16, Antonelli had 320 points, Russell 236 and Hamilton 214.
How big is Antonelli’s turnaround from 2025?
Antonelli’s 2026 form is a sharp reversal of a difficult 2025 rookie season, when he scored only three points across nine grands prix in Europe.
He struggled to adapt in that period. Hülkenberg noted the context: “it’s his second season that he’s doing it, not his debut season”, but he still called it a huge achievement.
What is Mercedes bringing to Austin?
Mercedes has brought an aerodynamic and chassis upgrade package to Austin for both cars.
The update follows performance shortfalls identified in Malaysia and Singapore, according to the source.
Where does the championship stand?
Mercedes leads both championships after round 16, with Antonelli first in the drivers’ standings on 320 points.
Mercedes had 556 points in the constructors’ standings, ahead of Ferrari on 405 and McLaren on 316. Fans of the Italian-Brit rising star can browse the Kimi Antonelli collection.
“He’s had a hell of a year, and a hell of a turnaround story from 12 months ago, where things looked very difficult and very different for him.”
— Nico Hülkenberg
“It’s quite astonishing, a hell of a story, and respect, fair play to him.”
— Nico Hülkenberg
“Well, obviously it’s his second season that he’s doing it, not his debut season, but still, it is very astonishing, a huge achievement, and huge respect for what he’s doing.”
— Nico Hülkenberg
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This article was written with the help of AI tools. Editorial policy
