Kimi Antonelli shares relatable practice prior to possible F1 championship victory

"I enjoy cleaning my car," Antonelli stated. "I never use an automatic wash; I always prefer to do it by hand. I truly care about cars, and I like to maintain my vehicle and everything associated with it.

"I love seeing it clean, so it's an activity I genuinely enjoy. It’s part of my routine."

The United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, marks the beginning of the second-to-last triple-header of the 2026 season. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff believes this weekend at the Circuit of the Americas will provide the Brackley team a chance to "respond" following two challenging weekends in Malaysia and Singapore.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

"Malaysia and Singapore were tough weekends for us, and we have diligently worked to pinpoint where we fell short," Wolff mentioned in the team's preview for the United States Grand Prix. "Austin presents us with a chance to respond."

"We will deploy our latest update package on both cars as we continue to advance our vehicle. The competition is incredibly tight, so we need to keep progressing if we want to contend consistently at the front as the season comes to a close.

"The United States Grand Prix initiates another demanding triple-header. There's a lot at stake, but we won’t get ahead of ourselves. Our focus is on the upcoming weekend: execute effectively, maximize our performance, and take each race as it comes.

"Austin will also hold significant importance for us beyond the track, with various commercial activities occurring throughout the city. Central to this will be AMG and the MANUFAKTUR initiative, highlighting the performance, craftsmanship, and individuality of the broader Mercedes family during the weekend. We are eager to showcase this and, ultimately, deliver the results where it counts: on the track."