Kimi Antonelli has admitted he couldn't have imagined being in a dominant position at the top of the Formula 1 world championship 12 months ago when he reached "rock bottom" during his rookie campaign.

Antonelli, 19, won the Belgian Grand Prix for Mercedes on Sunday to move 45 points clear of Lewis Hamilton at the top of the drivers' standings, with 10 of 22 currently scheduled rounds complete.

Having been fast-tracked in by Mercedes boss Toto Wolff to replace Hamilton following the seven-time world champion's decision to join Ferrari, Antonelli endured a chastening spell midway through his 2025 campaign.

The then 18-year-old went on a dismal run during which he finished above ninth just once in 10 grands prix, with one of the low points coming as he was knocked out in Q1 in Belgium last year.

Asked after claiming his sixth victory of the season on Sunday whether he could have imagined this scenario a year ago, Antonelli replied: "No, absolutely not.

"Last year here, I probably reached the bottom, so it was a very difficult weekend for me mentally.

"But this year was definitely a lot better. If you had asked me last year at this moment, I probably would have said no."

Antonelli's advantage at the top of the standings could actually be far greater if it weren't for a spell of bad luck the Italian has endured in recent weeks.

He suffered an engine failure when running second to Hamilton in Barcelona, and then suffered a wheel-guard failure that dropped him out of the points at the British Grand Prix when he appeared to be on course to chase Charles Leclerc down for victory.

His pace dominance over his team-mate George Russell, who began the year as the clear title favourite, makes it hard to see how Antonelli can be caught unless Ferrari make major improvements to their inferior power unit in the near future.

Despite his strong position, Antonelli isn't dwelling on the increasing likelihood of him becoming by far the youngest driver to become an F1 world champion.

"I never want to relax too much," Antonelli told Sky Sports F1.

"Of course, it's a great result and good redemption after last year because last year was a very dark moment for me and to get the win is very special.

"But you can never relax because we have seen in the past how the situation can swing so quickly.

"So that's why it's important to really maximise and take every opportunity that is given and just make the best out of it because you never know what can happen."

Wolff made the decision to give Antonelli one of the most desirable seats on the grid when several other strong options were available, and there were times during 2025 when the choice came under great scrutiny.

While Wolff says Antonelli's ups and downs during his debut campaign were expected, the Austrian admits the teenager's remarkable consistency in 2026 has "surprised" the whole team.

"We're all surprised, Wolff said. "I think the first season came as expected. Great moments where his talent shined through, and then moments which were very difficult - the long spell of lack of results in the middle of the season, as expected.

"And then after the winter, also as expected, he knew the environment, he knew the pressures, he knew the demands of the team on the technical side, on the marketing side, knowing the tracks that we would go racing.

"But what was not expected is the serenity and structure that he brought into his game. With Kimi, whether the session was good or bad, you wouldn't see a difference in emotions in the debrief.

"It is absolutely transactional. What is the problem? How do we solve it? How do we move on? And that is new. And I think that's why it's almost when he wins, you can't see this absolute excitement that a 19-year-old would almost have."

Wolff highlighted Antonelli's reactions to the reliability issues that cost him in Barcelona and at Silverstone as further examples of his protégé's level-headedness.

Wolff added: "And at the same time, when he fails to deliver results, in Barcelona, when we had the car stoppage, or even in Silverstone, he comes back in and he was the one saying to the team, this is a mechanical sport, these things can happen.

"19 years old - that is very, very impressive to see. And I think this mindset and this attitude is probably one of the main drivers that has allowed the talent to shine so early in his career."

Formula 1 heads straight to Budapest for the Hungarian Grand Prix with every session live on Sky Sports F1 from this Friday. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime