Lewis Hamilton: I’m so, so grateful that I get to witness amazing Kimi Antonelli in his moment

The 19-year-old Mercedes shooting star left the field in his wake on a chaotic afternoon that ended under a red flag, turning the prestigious race into a final sprint. Notching up an unprecedented and history making fifth victory in a row.

Hamilton, watching from the best seats in the house after starting his Ferrari on the front row, could barely keep the teenager in sight. Antonelli’s pace was simply untouchable as Mercedes once again proved they are operating on another level in 2026, as well as the Kid in the #12 car.

Hamilton was gracious in defeat, praising the driver who has taken his seat at Mercedes and acknowledging the team’s clear superiority: “Kimi was amazing today. He’s been amazing all weekend. I think Mercedes clearly have been ahead of everybody for quite some time, and we couldn’t match them.

Unfortunately, he did a phenomenal job. I’m so, so grateful that I get to witness him in his moment, and this is Kimi's moment, you know. So, I’m really grateful that I could just be up there and get to share it and see that," declared the seven time Formula 1 world champion.

The Italian teenager’s victory wasn’t just another win - it was a statement on Formula 1’s most demanding circuit. Antonelli built a massive lead before the red flag bunched the field, but he maintained composure to seal the deal in the sprint to the flag.

For Hamilton, P2 after penalties and chaos represented a solid result in a difficult weekend. The seven-time champion has reignited his passion following last year’s struggles, and he credited his Ferrari team for their fightback: “I’m very, very thankful to my team.

"Coming from such a horrendous year last year, I’m finally in a position where I’m reigniting the passion and the belief they had in me when I first joined. After a really big slump we had last year, to come back up, it’s great to see the fight in them. They did a fantastic job, and we’ve got a lot of work to do to try and close that gap,” Hamilton added.

Hamilton now sits second in the 2026 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship, a far cry from the pain of 2025. When asked how it feels, the Briton simply replied: “Feels really great.”

The former Mercedes driver was realistic about the challenge facing Ferrari. With long straights looming at next weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, the power deficit could become even more apparent.

News emerged around the weekend that Red Bull currently boasts the most powerful engine on the grid, leaving Ferrari and others playing catch-up with development tokens.

“What about Barcelona? Is that a track that you think Ferrari will go well at? I mean, we go back to long straights, so you can imagine,” Hamilton pointed out.

“I think the news came out either yesterday or today that Red Bull have the most powerful engine, and then we’re behind. So we’ve got these tokens now to try and develop and close the gap, but that’s an eight to 10-month project, so it’s not something we can just do next week.”

“So we’ll be pushing as hard as we can to see how we can close it up for next week. I think hopefully we’ll be able to add some components to the car to try and close the gap to them, but it’s going to be hard to be there more consistently.”

“They’re just on another level at the moment, which I’m really happy for because it’s my whole family, my whole team, and when they’re at their best, they’re very, very, very hard for anyone to beat.”

George Russell, Hamilton’s former teammate now at Mercedes alongside Antonelli, endured another tough afternoon. The team principal’s radio message captured the frustration many felt: “George, I just felt like you’d used up all your bad luck, and clearly that wasn’t the case.”

Antonelli’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric. Stepping into Hamilton’s shoes at Mercedes, the teenager has taken the sport by storm. Five consecutive victories, including a flawless performance at Monaco’s iconic circuit, have pundits and fans buzzing about a potential new era.

Monaco has always been a true test of precision, nerve, and car balance. Antonelli ticked every bos with goden ink, qualifying strongly, managing traffic, and executing under pressure when the race restarted. His ability to disappear into the distance before the red flag highlighted Mercedes’ current edge in both pace and reliability.

Hamilton’s perspective adds depth to the story. Rarely do we see a driver of his calibre so openly celebrate his successor’s brilliance. His words reflect not just sportsmanship but genuine appreciation for witnessing greatness in real time.

Ferrari will head to Barcelona motivated but aware of the mountain to climb. Development tokens offer hope, yet Hamilton’s honest assessment points to a longer timeline. Mercedes’ current form — and Antonelli’s maturity beyond his years — makes them the team to beat.