P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Andrea Kimi Antonelli has expressed that he never harboured grave concern that he wouldn’t keep his seat with Mercedes in F1 into a second season in 2026.
Kimi Antonelli expressed confidence in retaining his Mercedes seat for a second season in Formula 1 in 2026, despite earlier uncertainties.
Mercedes officially confirmed the unchanged line-up, with Antonelli partnering George Russell for the upcoming season.
While Antonelli faced doubts during a mid-season slump, he bounced back with consecutive top-five finishes in Azerbaijan and Singapore.
Despite the challenging period, Mercedes supported Antonelli and assured him of his position for the next season.
Looking ahead, Antonelli acknowledged the need to deliver strong performances in 2026 to secure his future with the team beyond the upcoming season.
