Oscar Piastri lost last year’s F1 title because he “couldn’t handle the pressure”, according to 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen.
In a rare interview with Italian media, ‘The Iceman’ was talking about Mercedes gun Kimi Antonelli’s meteoric rise to the top of the sport and his dominant start to the season when Piastri copped a stray whack.
Oscar Piastri ‘couldn’t handle the pressure’ of leading the championship, according to Kimi Raikkonen. NurPhoto via Getty Images
Victory in the Dutch Grand Prix last August had Piastri 34 points clear of eventual champion Lando Norris.
His third place finish at Monza the following week was his last podium for six races. He had nightmare weekends at Azerbaijan and the USA, and crashed out of the Brazilian sprint race while running well in the points.
Speaking to Quotidiano Nazionale, the Finn said Antonelli would not suffer the same fate.
“Antonelli won’t lose focus – he’s showing maturity,” Raikkonen said.
“He’ll have to avoid imitating Piastri in 2025. At one point, (he) seemed to have the title in his pocket, but he couldn’t handle the pressure.
“The Italian won’t fall into the same trap.”
Kimi Raikkonen in his final year with Ferrari in 2018. Getty Images
Five race meetings into the 2026 season, Antonelli leads the standings by a whopping 43 points over teammate George Russell. It’s the biggest championship lead any driver has held since the end of 2024.
The 19-year-old in Canada became the first driver in history to notch his first four grands prix victories on the trot.
“Obviously, in Formula 1, you don’t win four consecutive grands prix unless you have special talent,” Raikkonen said.
“Antonelli’s numbers are a feat. Having the right car is crucial, but it’s always been that way, throughout history.”
Raikkonen said he was “amused” the young Italian shares his name. After winning his maiden grand prix in Shanghai, veteran podium announcer Bob Constanduros accidentally announced ‘Kimi Raikkonen’ instead of ‘Kimi Antonelli’.
But despite the Italian’s prodigious talent, Raikkonen had no hesitation when he declared Max Verstappen the benchmark driver on the grid.
“Max is a phenomenon – he won his first race in Spain right in front of me 10 years ago,” he said.
“That’s when I realised a star was born.”
The F1 season continues this weekend with the series’ crown jewel Monaco Grand Prix.