Entering Formula 1 is never easy. Driving a Formula 1 at 18, taking over one of the most coveted seats on the grid, and doing it under a global spotlight borders on unimaginable. Yet this is the reality of Mercedes’ rookie sensation this season. In a sport where one year feels like ten, where pressure is as constant as the G-forces in a flat-out corner, the young driver has faced intensity, adversity, and flashes of brilliance—including a career-defining podium in São Paulo, on the very soil of his childhood hero, Ayrton Senna.

We sat down with the rising star to reflect on a hectic first season at the pinnacle of motorsport.

If you could go back to the beginning of the season, what would you tell to that boy stepping into the F1 paddock in Australia?
“A lot of things. Looking back, the season went by so fast—it feels surreal that we’re already nearing the end. I’d tell him to enjoy every minute of this incredible adventure. It’s so important to have fun driving the car and to be grateful, because competing at this level doesn’t happen every day. I’d also remind him to focus on the things that truly matter: the process, doing everything right as a driver, staying concentrated on the task instead of the final result. If you get the process right, the results eventually come.”

You’ve described this year as a learning process. In what way?
“Experience plays a huge part. I’ve learned so much about how a race weekend works—what I need from the car, how to approach each session, and how to manage everything off the track, including recovery. A major turning point was going back to the old suspensions. Having consistency in the car allowed me to understand it deeply and drive more relaxed. That made a big difference in how I responded to challenges.”

Your podium in São Paulo was one of the highlights of the season. What made that weekend come together?
“Brazil was a good one. I managed to put everything together across the whole weekend—qualifying, the races, everything felt consistent. Honestly, it felt natural, and that helped so much. Since Baku I’d been on a good run, building confidence race after race, and in Brazil it all clicked. Now the goal is to keep that momentum. I want to finish the season on a high, stay focused on the project—especially securing Mercedes second in the Teams’ standings—and if I do things right, the results will follow.”

Looking back, how would you summarize the season overall?
“We can divide the season into three parts. it started very promising, then In the middle section, I lost two or three months of progress. It was a tough moment mentally—I lost confidence and struggled to adapt. But once we went back to the old suspensions, things changed. I regained confidence, and since Baku we’ve been able to build consistently. Right now, we’re in a really positive momentum, and that’s what I want to carry forward.”

From navigating the politics and astronomic pressure of F1 to rediscovering confidence behind the wheel, this rookie season has shaped a young driver at lightning speed. We left a boy in Melbourne and found a young man in Las Vegas. Showing maturity far beyond his years and carrying real momentum into the final stretch, the F1 world knows one thing: this is only the beginning.

photo Credit: Mercedes F1 Team