What happened: Newly crowned Formula 1 world champion Kimi Antonelli has cultivated a relaxed atmosphere inside the Mercedes garage through regular practical jokes with team mechanics. Team personnel recount that the Italian driver frequently catches crew members off guard during race weekends to keep tension low.

Why it matters: The lighthearted dynamic comes alongside a dominant campaign in which Antonelli clinched the 2026 world title in Mexico City at age 20. The championship marked the youngest drivers' title in Formula 1 history and secured a constructors' double for Mercedes in the first year of the new engine regulations.

What to watch: Mercedes prepares for the final stretch of the 2026 calendar, with the Qatar Grand Prix next on the schedule.