Brazil crowned the nineteen-year-old driver from Bologna second in the Sprint and in the race. Kimi was visiting the Brazilian driver’s grave at the Morumbi cemetery
The two second places achieved in the Brazilian Grand Prix have a special flavor for Kimi Antonelli, a nineteen-year-old from Bologna who has already become a star driving for Mercedes in his first year in Formula 1, The bet of Toto Wolf, team principal of the German company, to focus on the talent of the Italian boy is proving successful. And Interlagos is a special place for Kimi, who he dreams of repeating the feats of the great Ayrton Senna and that to pay homage to the memory of the Brazilian champion who died on the track in Imola, a few kilometers from Antonelli’s home, he went to his grave in the Morumbi cemetery. A moment of reflection and respect away from the Formula 1 spotlight which this weekend has shone especially on him.
The perfect weekend
Brazil, the country of Ayrton Senna, has a special place for Kimi who drove impeccably at Interlagos from the first moment he stepped onto the track. First row in the Sprint tests, second place in the race itself and then again the first row in the starting grid and second place in the Grand Prix. Only the elusive Lando Norris with a car clearly superior to all the others managed to do better than Antonelli. But the end of the race, the head-to-head with a champion like Max Verstappen and the clear strategy adopted by Kimi in managing the tires which allowed him to keep the Dutchman at a distance, demonstrate the maturity of a boy who has already become champion. The celebration came from the words of Max Verstappen, the four-time world champion said about Kimi: “I’m proud of him, he has a lot of pressure on him in his debut season. I’m not surprised he went so well.”
Coolness and a little luck
Antonelli he admitted that he was very excited before the start: “I had butterflies in my stomach before leaving. This race gave me a lot of energy. At the end I saw Max in the mirrors, I didn’t expect it, I really don’t know where he came from!”. The coolness with which he managed the decisive moment was exemplary and beforehand there had also been a bit of luck, when on the restart behind the Safety Car he Piastri and Leclerc had found themselves on the same line, but the Mc Laren driver’s contact with Kimi’s Mercedes could have been lethal for Antonelli if his car had not crashed into Charles’ Ferrari, excluding him from the race. No responsibility for Antonelli, while Piastri was penalized ten seconds for the maneuver. Kimi’s climb continues, now with three races to go the goal is to win a race.
