Nico Rosberg, world champion of Formula 1 in 2016, has stated his surprise at the maturity that Kimi Antonelli has demonstrated during the current season. Antonelli achieved his eighth victory at the Spanish Grand Prix, extending his lead at the top of the drivers’ championship with a total of 81 points over his teammate, George Russell.
In an interview with Sky Sports F1 after the race at the Madrig circuit, Rosberg drew parallels between Antonelli’s current mental state and the intense pressure he himself had to endure during his time as a champion. «We are all human. He is not superhuman,» Rosberg said. The driver admitted that his fear of losing the title made him feel blocked at crucial moments of the competition.
Rosberg pointed out that, although Antonelli may come to feel this pressure in the future, it is currently impressive to see how he remains solid and mature under these circumstances. Even the head of the Mercedes team, Toto Wolff, expressed his disbelief at Antonelli’s calmness, calling him «as cool as a cucumber».
Antonelli has started the season strong, being the youngest driver to lead the championship after his dazzling victories in F1 in China and Japan. Despite the many speculations about when the pressure might affect him, the young Italian continues to deliver impressive performances, showing remarkable confidence on the path to his first championship title.
Wolff emphasized Antonelli’s ability to handle pressure and adapt to the team’s advice, underscoring that, regardless of his position, the most important thing is to finish the race and score points. All this, while adding that his young age may work in his favor, as he has a long way ahead in the world of motorsport.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
