The young Italian driver Kimi Antonelli has achieved great success in his career in Formula 1. At just 19 years old, he has managed to lead the drivers’ championship, becoming the youngest to do so after his consecutive victories at the Chinese Grand Prix and Japan.
Antonelli, currently with a nine-point lead over his teammate, George Russell, acknowledges that, despite his initial success, the season is long. “I always try to keep my feet on the ground, especially after the race in China,” he commented during an appearance on the radio show _Mercedes Nu Silver Arrows_.
The driver expressed his gratitude to Mercedes for the constant support he has received since joining the team when he was just 12 years old. According to Antonelli, the transition to F1 has not been difficult thanks to the prior relationship with the team. “I have grown up with them. They have given me many opportunities since my karting days,” he added.
In a funny anecdote shared by the team’s deputy director, Bradley Lord, it was revealed that on a filming day at Silverstone, Antonelli made a joke by marking the garage exit with tires. To “keep him in his place,” the team decided to fill the sleeves of his jacket with dirty rags they used to clean the marks he had left.
With this fun approach, Mercedes wants to ensure that the young star stays focused and does not lose sight of his goals. Antonelli hopes to continue rising in F1 and maintain the team’s good dynamics in 2026.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
