'Hopefully Soon': Kimi Antonelli Has A Special Message For Indian Formula 1 Fans

Kimi Antonelli, the current leader in the Formula 1 drivers' championship, shared a special message for F1 fans in India, thanking them for their continuous support and adding that he wants to race in India soon.

“To all the fans in India, thank you so much for your support. It’s great to see so many of you, hopefully we will be back in India racing soon. Appreciate your support and it really does make a difference,” Antonelli said in a clip shared by FanCode, the official broadcaster of Formula 1 in India.

The 2026 Formula 1 season has burst out of the blocks with Mercedes firmly in command, winning all three races contested so far. The season features a sweeping overhaul of regulations, which has reshuffled the competitive order dramatically.

Ferrari have also shown renewed competitiveness under the new rules, while McLaren, the reigning constructors' champions, endured a difficult start before showing promising pace at the Japanese Grand Prix. The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were cancelled following the outbreak of the US-Israel-Iran war, trimming the calendar to 22 races, with the season now on a break before resuming at Miami on May 3.

At the centre of the season's most thrilling storyline is Antonelli himself. The 19-year-old Italian has been nothing short of sensational in his campaign with Mercedes. In Australia, a battery-hampered start dropped him from second to seventh before he caught the lead trio and capitalised on a Ferrari strategy miscue to complete a 1-2 finish for Mercedes.

In China, he became the youngest polesitter in Formula One history and won by five seconds over teammate George Russell, becoming the second-youngest Grand Prix winner and the first Italian victor in two decades.

He then backed it up with a commanding victory in Japan at Suzuka, where at just 19 years, 6 months, and 25 days, he became the youngest driver to ever lead the F1 world championship.

Antonelli was also the first teenager to do so, breaking a record previously held by Lewis Hamilton, the very man he replaced at Mercedes. He now leads the standings with 72 points, nine ahead of Russell.