Former Formula 1 driver Riccardo Patrese believes 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli has the chance to compete for the championship in his second season.

With changes to the technical rules, the power order in the starting lineup for the 2026 season may change significantly. Patrese added that Antonelli has already shown that he can be among the names to compete for the championship:

“If Mercedes builds the best car under the new rules, Antonelli should focus on fighting Russell, as he has already shown he can do, and the rest will follow,” Patrese said.

“To the championship title!” he replied when asked how far the young Italian could go next year.

If Antonelli manages to win the championship next season, he will become the first driver to win the title in his second season since Lewis Hamilton in 2008.

Patrese recorded Antonelli’s first year:

“He made his debut, had to learn everything and coped well with the inevitable mistakes that come with lack of experience. I really enjoyed it, he showed pure class moments.”

Antonelli took three podium finishes in his debut season, including an impressive weekend at Interlagos and a spectacular comeback at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

A 2002 McLaren MP4-17A will go up for auction at RM Sotheby’s in Paris in 2026. Competing in 12 Grands Prix, the chassis was driven by Kimi Raikkonen and David Coulthard, achieving five podiums and one victory. The estimated price of the land is between 1,000,000 and 1,400,000 Euros.

The car was designed under the guidance of the legendary Adrian Newey. Although the MP4-17 initially showed inconsistent performance, it was later able to compete with the dominant Ferrari F2002 and regularly achieve podium finishes.

Chassis number 6 appeared in the middle of the 2002 season and was mainly used by Raikkonen, who replaced Mika Hakkinen in the team. The Finnish driver immediately finished third in the European Grand Prix, followed by second in France and third in the USA.

In 2003, the same chassis updated and driven by Coulthard won the season opener in Australia, marking the Scot’s 13th and final Formula One victory.

The car’s last race was at the 2003 Japanese Grand Prix, driven by Raikkonen, who finished second behind Rubens Barrichello, also of Ferrari. That season the championship was won by Michael Schumacher, who finished eighth in the race.

The car retains its original 2002 West livery and Räikkönen number 4 and is powered by a 3.0-litre Mercedes-Benz FO110 V10 engine. A complete restoration is required for reuse on the track.

Following its racing career, the car was stored at McLaren for 17 years and was purchased by its current owner in 2021. For fans of the early 2000s, this land is a unique investment and historical value.

Peter Sauber, founder of the Sauber Formula 1 team, said that he was very close to signing a contract with Lewis Hamilton nearly 20 years ago.

At the time, the Briton was in the McLaren youth academy, but the Woking team, which regularly challenges for championship titles, planned to send Hamilton outside the peloton for a season to gain experience in Formula One.

According to the Swiss driver, his and McLaren’s vision of the situation did not align. While Peter Sauber was counting on long-term cooperation, the British team was only considering the option of hiring pilots on a temporary basis. Due to different terms and conditions, the deal ultimately did not happen.

“Almost no one knows that Lewis Hamilton planned to race for Sauber nearly 20 years ago.”

“He was part of the McLaren team and they wanted to send him to Hinwil for training. That’s why the McLaren delegation met with Lewis and his father Anthony, me and our lawyer Monisha Kaltenborn at Kloten Airport.”

“In the end the deal didn’t work out because McClaren only wanted to loan him for one season and we insisted on a two-year loan.”

As a result, Lewis Hamilton remained with McLaren and entered the title fight in his first season in Formula 1. The Briton lost the championship largely due to a series of unfortunate circumstances, but he immediately showed the top level. Lewis currently has 7 championships.