Antonelli: the climb towards F1
For the first time since 2021, i.e. since the last Formula 1 GPs contested in Antonio Giovinazzi’s career, the Circus will see the return of another Italian in the role of official driver. It will be the newly eighteen-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonellichosen by the team principal of Mercedes Toto Wolff as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement after a rapid growth of the Bolognese in the cadet categories: from success in the European Formula Regional to the direct transition to F2, where he has achieved two victories so far, before the announcement of the promotion to F1 which took place in Monza with the participation in the first free practice session, which however ended with an accident Parabolic. An episode that will do nothing but stimulate Antonelli in his growth in F1, at least according to the words of another former Italian F1 driver like Vitantonio Liuzzi.
The pressure in F1
In a career that lasted uninterruptedly from 2005 to 2011 (with the exception of 2008) in teams such as Red Bull, Toro Rosso, Force India and HRT, Liuzzi is convinced that the Bolognese will recover quickly, and will also have the opportunity to gain experience alongside to another top-class driver like George Russell, his future teammate: “Kimi has shown that he is really strong since his karting days – specified the Apulian a f1.com – what happened in Monza can happen to anyone when they arrive in F1. There’s a lot of pressurea lot of stress, but he he deserves this seat, he deserves a place in F1. I’m happy that Wolff gave him a chance and that he’s in a really great environment. I can’t wait for 2025 and see how it performs.”
The ideal teammate
Liuzzi reiterated how much stress the riders have to endure, but according to him Antonelli will have all the credentials to be able to get used to it, especially with a teammate like Russell: “George is truly a teammate extraordinary as a point of reference – he added – Kimi can learn from George and take a lot of information. I think he will get used to it quickly and can be an excellent team player. It won’t be easy, because obviously you start with a lot of pressure in a team like Mercedes, one of the top teams in the industry, but I think if he is intelligent enough to play his cards well, as I said before, it will have a truly bright future. The speed is there, and you can’t buy it, so this is the most important thing.”
The return of an Italian
In conclusion, as mentioned, Liuzzi will also be proud to see another ‘blue’ in Formula 1, with the victory in F1 of an Italian driver who has been missing since 2006 (Malaysian GP) with Giancarlo Fisichella: “We were missing an Italian on the F1 starting gridit is very important. Italy is a historic country for motorsport. In addition to the Grand Prix, we have great historic brands, so it is important to keep people’s passion high. It’s incredible to have this opportunity with an Italian back on the grid, and I think he will have a lot of support from Italy, because there is a lot of passion for F1.”
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