F1 World Champion, Kimi Antonelli enjoys washing his car by hand. The psychology behind the everyday chores

Many prefer to take their car to the car wash shop to get it cleaned and vacummed to make it look spotless. But for 2026's F1 World Champion, Andrea Kimi Antonelli he prefers to do this everyday chore of cleaning his car himself. It may be a welcome break for many in the hectic life, but the 20-year-old Mercedes driver shared that he genuinely enjoys cleaning his car, by hand and takes his own sweet time to do the task properly. His approach also raises an interesting question: why do some people find pleasure in seemingly ordinary activities?

Antonelli made Formula 1 history by becoming the youngest-ever World Champion after finishing third at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix. The result was enough to secure the title for Mercedes. Max Verstappen won the race, with Lewis Hamilton finishing second.

Away from the track, however, Antonelli has a rather simple routine that he enjoys. As per reports by ESPN, when he was asked if he times himself while washing his car, he laughed and shared that he does not. Instead, he prefers to take his time washing the car, making sure it is cleaned and dried properly.


Antonelli avoids automatic car washes. Instead, he prefers to get grime and grease on his hands and do the job himself, because of his love for cars and the satisfaction of looking after and maintaining it. As he explained, he likes seeing it clean and considers washing it by hand an activity he genuinely loves. For him, it is not just a chore but a routine.

Why can everyday chores feel satisfying?

As per psychological research ordinary activities become enojoyable when people give them their full attention. As per a study published in the journal Mindfulness, led by Adam W. Hanley at Florida State University, explored this through a simple task: washing dishes.

The 2014 study had 51 college students as participants, who were asked to follow either mindful or regular dishwashing instructions. It was found that those who practised mindful dishwashing reported greater inspiration and less nervousness. Participants also showed higher levels of state mindfulness and tended to overestimate how much time they had spent washing dishes.

The researchers further suggested that intentionally indulging in everyday activities may help cultivate mindfulness and positive emotions. In other words, focusing on the task instead of rushing to finish it may change how the experience feels.

How routines can add meaning to daily life

Another study, titled Routines and Meaning in Life, examined whether following familiar patterns in everyday life was linked to a greater sense of meaning.

In its first study, involving 317 participants, researchers found a positive relationship between people's preference for routines and their sense of meaning in life. A second study found that activities carried out as part of a person's usual routine were associated with stronger momentary feelings of meaning.