Kimi Antonelli “really grateful” to Lewis Hamilton for support ahead of F1 debut
“He’s been really nice to me and I am really grateful to that because it shows he’s not only a great driver but a grꦐeat person.”
168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Andrea Kimi Antonelli has admitted it will be “pretty surreal” to race alongside 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lewis Hamilton on track for the first time at this weekend’s F1 Australian Grand Prix.
Antonelli will make his F1 debut for Mercedes in Melb♚ourne on Sunday.
At just 18, An🔯tonelli is the youngest driver on the 2025 F1 grid but is rated incredibly highly by Mercedes.
Following Hamilton’s shock decision to leave the team for Ferrari, Mercedes decided to promote Antonelli from their junior academy rather than opt for an experienced option like 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Carlos Sainz.
Antonelli has been part of the Mercedes ꦜstable since 2018, joining as a youngster during H🌜amilton’s F1 title domination.
He will now go head-to-head with Hamilton on tra🌌ck in 2025.
Speaking at the FIA press conference on T🍬hursday in Melbourne, Antonelli discussed the crucial role Hamilton played last year in adapting to lif🌠e at Mercedes.
“I mean, first ofꦦ all, it feels pretty surreal to be able to race wit🅘h someone such as Lewis,” Antonelli said.
“I have been growing up, and once I joined Mercedes, lo💝oking at him. He’s been incredibly successful. It feels kind of weird tha🐠t I am going to be sharing the track with him but also with Carlos, all of the drivers at the end of the day.
“When you’re used to seeing them on TV, you are final🔴ly ab🏅le to share the track with them. It’s an incredible feeling.
“Last year, I have been doing some trackside, a🌸nd at the end of the season, I am starting to work wit𒆙h the team. Lewis has always been nice to me and also given me some advice.
“And also you [Ha♏milton] wrote a message in the driver’s room? I will ☂be able to see it pretty soon. He’s been really nice to me and I am really grateful to that because it shows he’s not only a great driver but a great person.”
Antonelli could break Verstappen record
Antonelli could break a long-time 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen record early in the season.
If the Italian wins any of🌟 the three opening races of t🅘he year, then Antonelli will become the youngest winner in F1 history.
Verstappen currently holds the rec𒁏ord after winning the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, his first race for Red Bull.
The last rookie to finish on the podium in their first 𒉰race was Kevin Magnussen, who drove for McLaren at the 2014 Australian Grand Prix.
With a sharp eye for F1’s controversies and storylines, Connor is the hඣeartbeat of our unbiased 🍸reporting.
