Kimi Antoneli revealed that Lewis Hamilton visited him and his former group forward of the F1 Belgian Grand Prix.
Antonelli was chosen as Hamilton’s substitute for the 2025 System 1 season at Mercedes, following the shock resolution of the seven-time world champion to depart the group.
The Italian confirmed a flash of tempo throughout his rookie F1 season.
Antoneri took the pole to the Miami Misprint lace with a powerful lap.
He additionally received his first podium on the Canadian Grand Prix.
Nevertheless, Antonelli has struggled with form because the begin of the European season.
It coincides with the Mercedes type dip, with George Russell ending on the rostrum solely as soon as in his previous seven races.
After the race on the spa, Antonelli was requested a few chat with Hamilton earlier than a race at Mercedes hospitality.
“He began greeting the group. We undoubtedly had just a few phrases,” Antonelli stated.
“He instructed me to maintain my head up after which he stated it was regular to have a foul weekend, and simply to maintain believing. That was actually good.”
Hamilton was requested about Antonelli in a post-race interview with Sky Sports activities.
Hamilton admitted that it had so much on his shoulder on condition that he was 18, however he stated he “does an awesome job.”
“You may’t think about what 18 appears to be like like, or think about what 18 appears to be like like.
“He is doing nice issues, however to be thrown into the deep edge at 6pm… he did not actually have a driver’s license when he first began racing.
“I believe there’s so much on somebody’s shoulder. He does an awesome job and has an awesome group of individuals round him. So I believe it’s a must to take it in your stroll.
“And he has Bono (Peter Bonnington, a race engineer who beforehand labored with Hamilton), and he has nobody there.”
One other powerful weekend for Antoneri
The Belgian Grand Prix was one thing Antonelli ought to have forgotten ultimately.
He was knocked out within the first quarter in two qualifying periods.
“The few laps I used to be in free air made me undoubtedly extra pleasant,” he remembers.
“Then it’s totally irritating to get caught as a result of you’ll be able to’t actually unleash the actual tempo you may have. After I acquired caught, I immediately acquired two seconds late.
“It was difficult, however I don’t suppose we should always begin that far earlier than, I believe we have to work on qualifying and work to regain confidence within the automobile to start out extra in entrance.
