This headline could also be slightly untimely contemplating Kimi Antonelli is simply 19 years outdated, however the actual fact that he’s solely 19 years outdated and may produce performances just like the one he has had in current days at Interlagos is outstanding.
The hype round Antonelli was huge even earlier than he approached F1, from when Mercedes threw him into an FP1 session simply after his 18th birthday at Monza, to Toto Wolff waxing lyrical about his unbelievable velocity throughout over 90 per cent of his flying laps, till the Italian crashed at Parabolica.
The thrill grew much more the following day when he was confirmed as one of many group’s race drivers for 2025, however so did considerations that it was slightly too quickly. Nobody doubted Antonelli’s expertise, however whether or not it might be higher for him to hone his expertise and acquire expertise in F2 for one more 12 months earlier than making the step up, or no less than to develop with one other group away from the front-line highlight. It wasn’t that way back that related questions might nonetheless be raised, on condition that Wolff described Antonelli’s current efficiency at Monza as “underwhelming”. Since then, the Italian has demonstrated progress that may most likely solely have been attainable by being a part of the Mercedes line-up.
Whereas his improved performances in Baku and Singapore have been encouraging, as was his sixth place forward of George Russell in Mexico Metropolis, it was the best way he put all of it collectively all through the dash weekend in Brazil that caught the attention.
Antonelli was second behind Lando Norris in all vital periods and had been Mercedes’ chief for the previous three days.
“I believe he was sturdy from the beginning all weekend, and it is good to see that,” group principal Wolff mentioned. “Perhaps he was coming to a course he did not know. It was slightly bit simpler. Expectations have been most likely decrease. Perhaps the stress wasn’t as excessive as some Europeans, however the efficiency on the finish was good.”
“Having the ability to get previous Max (Verstappen) on the brand new, tender tires was actually sturdy and an indication of issues to return.
“I believe it additionally meets his personal expectations. He’s very younger, he’s solely 19 years outdated. When he involves a monitor the place he is aware of he has carried out very properly up to now (some European circuits), he’s at a drawback…
“I’ve obtained sensational team-mates who could not have been higher. I believe there’s nearly much less stress coming to a monitor that you do not know. Your expectations are decrease, everybody else’s expectations are decrease, and issues just like the stress of the followers are lower than at among the programs in Europe. I believe that performs an enormous function.”
“This can be a improvement. Subsequent 12 months he’ll come to a course he is aware of, however I do not anticipate him to kill it. It is a studying 12 months, a 12 months we all the time anticipated to return, even with its ups and downs.”
“I am feeling good immediately. It is positively a great second. There will likely be some tougher races, however let us take a look at the following few races. I believe we’ll see the boy flip right into a younger man and carry out.”
The match towards Brazil was an ideal match for the Italian teenager, aside from the apparent impending victory. Mark Thompson/Getty Pictures
For Antonelli himself, this weekend gave him plenty of confidence and confirmed that not solely can he fulfill his potential, however he can fulfill that potential in a full weekend.
“I’ve had some good runs to this point with some sturdy races,” Antonelli mentioned. “This weekend was a weekend to place issues collectively extra and that is what I’ve to do particularly for the group. I am having plenty of enjoyable this weekend and I am wanting ahead to subsequent weekend.”
The maybe much less very best second of Antonelli’s race was the beginning and restart. He needed to defend on each events, going three-wide with Charles Leclerc and getting hit by Oscar Piastri on the security automotive restart. Piastri was given a penalty, however Antonelli admitted he was on the incorrect facet going into the nook and was fortunate to have the ability to proceed.
“I accelerated slightly bit on the moist street, so I spun the wheels and misplaced momentum going into Flip 1,” mentioned the rookie. “To be honest, there was one automotive on the surface and one automotive on the within, so I discovered myself in a really tough place.
“I attempted to brake, however not too late. The issue was that I could not see the automotive subsequent to me anymore. I nonetheless tried to get an honest line in my place, however I ended up getting hit. I used to be fortunate to outlive as a result of I clearly hit Charles fairly exhausting.”
“Sadly, he retired from the race, however for me I used to be fortunate that I did not undergo an excessive amount of injury. I sustained some minor injury to the automotive. I do not suppose the steering wheel was fully straight, however I used to be very fortunate that I used to be in a position to survive that and proceed the race.”
His efficiency from that time on was spectacular sufficient, however as Wolff hinted, it was when he got here beneath immense stress from Verstappen within the closing phases that Antonelli confirmed why he was much more enthusiastic about his potential.
“(It was) too hectic,” he mentioned. “When Max made his final pit cease and Bono (race engineer Peter Bonnington) instructed him the hole, he was solely 9 seconds behind so I assumed, ‘I could be in bother’. Clearly he had new softs on.
“He had very sturdy tempo on this race. He did an amazing job since coming again, however he put plenty of stress on me on the finish. We needed to push the tires to the restrict and it wasn’t straightforward, however I believe we did our greatest and I am actually completely happy.”
“I discovered my rhythm. Clearly, when he got here at me, I picked up the tempo and began pushing slightly extra. I discovered my rhythm. On this automotive with the soiled air, it is slightly tough to maintain up. So I attempted to make use of that to my benefit and it labored.”
Mercedes can even level to Antonelli’s efforts in his rookie 12 months as paying off. Antonelli is beginning to present indicators that he and Russell might win races frequently in the event that they put together a automotive that may compete for the championship in 2026.
