Mercedes prodigy, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, is increasingly feeling the pressure that comes with rumors about his F1 future. The young Italian is trying to enjoy every opportunity he gets and shares his first experience behind the wheel of an F1 car.
Formula 2 driver Antonelli has experienced a rapid rise through the training classes, jumping straight into an F2 seat after the Formula Regional. The young Italian is yet to turn eighteen, but is already seen as the potential successor to Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes. Antonelli honestly admits that this comes with a certain amount of pressure.
“There’s always a certain level of concern, I think, the prospect of not being able to perform scares everyone,” Antonelli tells Autosport. “My approach is to see it as a great opportunity to learn, grow, and also enjoy the moment.”
Young Racer Antonelli Confident in His Potential
The young racer currently ranks seventh in the F2 championship, but he is confident that Mercedes recognizes his potential. “I am very calm, if the opportunity to debut in F1 presented itself, I would eagerly seize it and try to make the best of it,” says Antonelli. “Lately, there has been some pressure on me with all the rumors about next year, but I have always tried to enjoy it.”
Antonelli Becoming Increasingly Comfortable in F1 Car
One of those opportunities for Antonelli came early in the season when the Italian was informed that he would be allowed to test a Mercedes Formula 1 car in 2024. “During the preseason test in Bahrain, I was given the data and at that moment I said to myself: ‘Well, you are really going to drive an F1 car!’ It was a very special moment, as there was a day and a circuit, in black and white,” recalls the Formula 2 racer.
Antonelli has since been in a Mercedes car several times, and the young racer is enjoying it. “An F1 car gives you a lot of confidence, and one difficulty I encountered was finding the limit. Every time I ask for a little more, the car gives it to me. There comes a time when there is nothing more to squeeze out, that will be the limit, but it is a very narrow window,” the Italian explains. “The more the confidence in the car grows, the more comfortable I feel.”
