Ahead of a crucial weekend at the Circuit of the Americas, Kimi Antonelli has shared a glimpse of his humble life away from the high-pressure Formula 1 paddock. As the young star stands on the verge of claiming the 2026 world championship at the United States Grand Prix, he revealed that he still prefers to wash his own road car by hand.
The young Italian sensation arrived in Austin holding a commanding 102-point advantage over his Mercedes teammate George Russell. This weekend presents a historic opportunity for him to become F1's youngest-ever champion and the first Italian titleholder since Alberto Ascari back in 1953.
Speaking during the team's special livery launch event in Austin, the 20-year-old driver explained his at-home maintenance routine involving his personal Mercedes-AMG GT63 road car, deliberately steering clear of automated machine washes.
"I like to clean my car. I never do automatic, you know, with the machine. I always like to wash by hand, myself. Because I love cars, I really like to take care of my car and everything," Antonelli explained.
"I like to see it clean, so it’s an activity I love to do. It’s a routine," he added, highlighting his genuine passion for automotive craftsmanship.
On the engineering front, the race in Austin kicks off an intense triple-header to conclude the 2026 campaign. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff emphasized that the Circuit of the Americas provides a vital opportunity to bounce back following difficult weekends in Malaysia and Singapore.
"Malaysia and Singapore were difficult weekends for us and we have worked hard to understand where we fell short. Austin gives us an opportunity to respond," Wolff stated in the team preview.
The Brackley squad will deploy their latest upgrade package on both cars as the fierce midfield battle continues to intensify down the stretch.
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