Kimi’s 19 and leading F1: How teens dominate the big stage

When 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli secured his second consecutive Grand Prix victory in Japan last Sunday, he became the youngest driver to lead the F1 World Championship. When asked about his experience, Antonelli simply replied, “It was a lot of fun.” His composed demeanor did not reflect the intense pressure he faced during the race. Initially falling to sixth place on the first lap, Antonelli’s fortunes changed when British driver Oliver Bearman crashed, leading to a timely pit stop that ultimately helped him claim the win.

Jonah Oliver, a renowned sports psychologist who has worked with athletes such as golfer Cameron Smith and Olympic gold medallist pole vaulter Nina Kennedy, discusses whether teenage elite athletes have an advantage over the average person when it comes to performing under pressure.

“Young talented athletes aren’t neurologically different from the average human, so they still worry, they’re still quick to anger, they’re still perfectionists, they still have high standards, therefore they have high emotions,” Oliver said.

“What do they do differently than, say, the average person is that they’re able to maintain their skill in the presence of those emotions, and this is a very important distinction. They look calm and confident, but rather they’re composed and consistent… They still feel those same emotions, but they seem to be less impacted in terms of their behaviours. They can still hit that golf putt, they can still drive the racing car, they can still perform at the Olympics, even though they’re feeling those same intense emotions.”

Sports psychologist Jacqui Louder, who has worked with Australian sporting talents like NRL superstar Reece Walsh, highlights the unique challenges young athletes face when dealing with sudden pressure.

“When someone comes on the scene as a young gun, first, you get a period of grace, where everyone just loves you, and they think everything you do is amazing, and you’re fresh-faced, everyone’s kind to you,” Louder said.

“But once you’ve now been in for a bit, all the gloves come off, and then teams start putting more expectations. It’s like, well, you’ve been doing this now for a bit, we expect results now. The media start criticising where they used to praise and then with the athlete, then we see what can happen.”

Antonelli is not alone in being a standout teen athlete on the global stage. He is part of a growing list of young stars making their mark across various sports.

Young Stars Making Their Mark

Kimi Antonelli, 19: Formula 1

Antonelli combines calmness with youthful exuberance. The Italian was destined for elite motorsport since excelling in go-karting. He had a strong rookie season with Mercedes in Formula 1, earning his first podium finish in Canada. This year, he leads the driver’s championship after three races.

Cooper Flagg, 19: Basketball

After a single season at Duke University, Flagg was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks as the first pick. He has shone in his rookie season, scoring 42 points against the Utah Jazz and 51 against Orlando, becoming the first teenager to score over 50 in an NBA game.

Summer McIntosh, 19 and Yu Zidi, 13: Swimming

McIntosh, a three-time Olympic champion, set three world records at the Canadian swimming trials. At 13, Yu Zidi made a breakthrough in the World Championships, reaching finals in multiple events.

Lamine Yamal, 18: Football

Yamal joined Barcelona’s La Masia youth setup at six and made his debut at 16. He has won two La Liga titles and a European Championship with Spain.

Mirra Andreeva, 18 and Victoria Mboko, 19: Tennis

Both teenagers are in the WTA top 10. Mboko rose from 350th in the world to a fourth-round grand slam appearance, while Andreeva reached semi-finals in major tournaments.

Arisa Trew, 15: Skateboarding

Trew, the youngest Australian to win Olympic gold, has performed groundbreaking tricks, including a 720 and a 900, making her a skateboarding sensation.

Luke Littler, 19: Darts

Littler became the youngest world champion in darts history. His popularity has brought new fans to the sport, reshaping its image.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi, 15: Cricket

Suryavanshi, the second-quickest century in IPL history, made headlines for his rapid rise. He debuted at 12 and signed an IPL deal at 13, the youngest player in the competition’s history.

Gout Gout, 18: Athletics

Gout, an emerging sprinting talent, has beaten Peter Norman’s 50-year-old 200m record. Despite recent losses, he remains one of Australia’s most exciting teenage athletes.