Toto Wolff, Kimi Antonelli’s boss, said next year's cars could exceed 400 km/h (248.5 mph), though the team will not push this capability for competitive reasons

The former driver explained on the Beyond The Grid podcast: "I felt it was necessary to give this engine a publicity boost, as many underestimated it despite it being a real technological gem.

“If we put all the factors together, we could reach and even exceed 400 km/h, although obviously on the following straights the energy would be depleted and the car would not perform at its best.”

Andrea Kimi Antonelli has received a new extension to his contract with Mercedes, despite being surrounded by rumors after his first season in Formula 1. The German team announced that the Italian driver will continue to race with them for the 2026 World Championship in the top category and his teammate will remain George Russell.

This means that Antonelli is under contract until at least the end of 2026, and his one-year extension reaffirms the confidence that Toto Wolff and company have in his outstanding talent behind the wheel.

Although his future was in jeopardy due to a series of poor results in 2025 and the possibility of signing Max Verstappen, the German team has put an end to the rumors with this new extension of his contract.