Andrea Kimi Antonelli attended the press conference alongside Hamilton and Sainz for his first Formula 1 race.
The first time is always unforgettable, even if it’s just a press conference. Andrea Kimi Antonelli will officially debut in Formula 1 during the Melbourne weekend. The Italian, teammate to Russell at Mercedes, was one of the key figures at the usual Thursday press session, alongside Sir Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz.
A sort of sliding doors moment continues, with the Italian replacing Hamilton and the Englishman, at Ferrari, taking the place of Carlos Sainz. There was palpable emotion from the eighteen-year-old from Bologna, who, just hours before the first free practice session, spoke as follows: “It’s incredible, a real dream come true. I’ve waited for this moment my whole life, and the winter felt incredibly long. To have my first Grand Prix in such a special place is exciting; I can’t wait to get on track. I don’t exactly know what to expect, since it’s my first race. I just want to have a clean weekend, find a good rhythm, and build from there. The fact that I already know the track from Formula 2 helps me: I know where to overtake and defend, which is an advantage.”
Antonelli then added “For me, this season will be a whole lesson. There are many new scenarios to face, and my goal will be to maximize every result and learn as much as possible every weekend. As a driver, of course, I want to be fast and win, but I’m also realistic: the level in Formula 1 is incredibly high, and that’s exactly what makes the sport so fascinating.
It’s surreal to think about racing against drivers like Lewis, Carlos, and all the others. I grew up watching them on TV, and now I’ll share the track with them. I already had the chance to work with Lewis at the end of last season, and he’s always been very kind and gave me some advice. He’s a great champion, but above all, a great person, and I’m truly grateful for that.”
Photo: X Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team