Mercedes Greenlights Antonelli for Monza Debut as Honda Tempers 2026 Expectations
A Homecoming for the Future Star
The Formula 1 paddock is bracing for a significant glimpse into the sport’s future at the upcoming Italian Grand Prix, as Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has officially confirmed that protégé Kimi Antonelli will make his weekend debut on home soil. The announcement ends weeks of speculation regarding when the junior star would get his first taste of a race weekend session. Antonelli, who just celebrated his 18th birthday on Sunday, is set to take the wheel of the Mercedes W15 during the first free practice (FP1) session at Monza next weekend.
This outing fulfills one of the two mandatory rookie practice sessions required by regulations, but the timing is anything but routine. The young Italian is widely viewed as the presumptive heir to Lewis Hamilton’s seat alongside George Russell for the 2025 campaign, although the Brackley-based squad has yet to formally finalize their lineup. Wolff’s decision to put Antonelli in the car in front of the tifosi is a massive vote of confidence for a driver who has enjoyed a meteoric rise through the junior ranks.
Having secured successive titles in Italian F4 and Formula Regional championships, Antonelli skipped Formula 3 entirely to compete in Formula 2 this season. After a steady start, he recently broke through with victories in both the Sprint and Feature races at Silverstone and the Hungaroring. When asked at Zandvoort about a potential birthday gift for the youngster, Wolff didn’t hesitate.
“That’s a good idea. Let’s do that,” Wolff said regarding the Monza outing. “It’s going to be a really emotional moment. We’ve followed him since he was 11 and a baby go-kart driver. To see him drive out on Friday in FP1, in Monza, in front of the tifosi, having an Italian kid in a competitive car… I think that will be something that everybody in Italy can be very proud of.”
While stopping short of confirming a full-time seat for 2025, Wolff left the door wide open, simply noting, “Then we’ll take it from there.”
Honda Cites Development Hurdles for 2026
While Mercedes looks to its immediate driver future, another major storyline is brewing regarding the sport’s next technical era. Honda, preparing for a high-profile official return to Formula 1 in 2026 as the exclusive power unit partner for Aston Martin, is urging caution. Despite the massive hype surrounding the project—fueled by the technical reset imposed by the FIA and the arrival of design guru Adrian Newey at Silverstone—reports emerging from Japan paint a more complex picture.
Koji Watanabe, President of Honda Racing, has issued a sobering assessment of the manufacturer’s current progress, admitting that the development curve has not been entirely linear. Following their formal exit at the end of 2021, Honda maintained a technical support role with Red Bull, but the shift to a new collaboration with Aston Martin involves integrating complex new power unit regulations with a completely different chassis philosophy.
“Given the uncertainty about the progress of rival manufacturers, it remains a battle to see how close we can get to our self-imposed targets,” Watanabe admitted, striking a measured tone. “Frankly, we still need more time. We are carrying out development while gradually evaluating performance improvements from integrating various components. Some prove effective, others fail unexpectedly—it is a mix of conflicting results.”
Adapting to the Newey Vision
The situation at Honda highlights a volatile development phase where technical data isn’t always matching initial simulations. Watanabe was transparent about the difficulties, acknowledging that while there are no insurmountable disasters, the project is currently facing headwinds in critical areas. “To be honest, not everything is going well,” he said. “There are many areas where we are struggling… In this situation, we are quietly concentrating on improving performance and reliability.”
A major variable in this equation is the integration with Aston Martin’s evolving technical team. With the British outfit intent on building cars that reflect Adrian Newey’s aerodynamic philosophy, Honda faces the task of tailoring their power unit to suit a very specific packaging requirement. Watanabe emphasized their willingness to adapt, stating that if aligning with Newey’s vision increases their competitiveness, they will do “whatever is necessary.”
However, these comments arrive amidst unsettling rumors that circulated over the winter. Speculation suggests Honda may have initially underestimated certain interpretations of the 2026 regulations, specifically regarding the compression ratio of the new engines. Industry whispers indicate that competitors like Mercedes and Red Bull Powertrains may have identified wider development margins, potentially locking in a performance advantage that could be difficult to claw back. Combined with reports of delays at the Sakura research facility, the road to 2026 for the Aston Martin-Honda alliance appears steeper than many anticipated.
