The first victory of Kimi Antonelli in Formula 1 has been an emotional moment not only for the young driver but also for his father, Marco Antonelli. The latter expressed his gratitude to the CEO of Mercedes, Toto Wolff, after Kimi took the first place at the Chinese Grand Prix.
Kimi, only 19 years old, began the second race of the season from pole position and showed great determination in defending his position against the team’s drivers, George Russell, as well as Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc from Ferrari.
In a post-race interview, Marco couldn’t hold back his tears. “Yes, of course, Toto did everything,” said Antonelli Sr., while Wolff replied: “No, I think we did it together. Kimi, as a driver and as a person, owes a lot to his family. His mother, Veronica, and I have provided a solid foundation. Congratulations!”
Marco Antonelli added that they have tried to do the best for their son, but acknowledged the crucial role of Mercedes: “I can only say thank you.” He recalled a crucial moment they had in Monza two years ago when he discussed Kimi’s preparation for a F1 seat with Wolff.
Despite the significant milestone achieved, Marco is realistic about his son’s expectations in the race for the drivers’ championship. “I don’t know for sure because Kimi is young and not perfect at the moment. Certainly, he is a good driver, but experience also counts a lot. Moreover, George is an exceptional driver with a lot of experience, so it will be difficult to compete with him,” he concluded.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
