With the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix on the horizon, Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli is gearing up for his first home race. It promises to be a challenging weekend for the Italian, who at just eighteen years old already feels the pressure from the many home fans. Antonelli is looking forward to an incredible Grand Prix, but at the same time, he doesn’t want to be overwhelmed by all the emotions. During the official FIA press conference, he gives us a glimpse into his mindset.
“It feels amazing,” Kimi Antonelli wanted to emphasize. “This is my real home race. Of course, we have Monza, but I live just thirty minutes away from this circuit. It’s a fantastic track to race on, truly old school. That’s why I think it’s going to be a special weekend, especially since all my friends and family will be there. It’s going to be very intense, but I’m definitely looking forward to it.”
Antonelli, who secured a sprint pole in Miami, was also asked about his expectations for the race. Will we see him shine on the podium for the first time on Sunday? “I have a lot of confidence in the car, especially after Miami,” he explained. “My family is very superstitious, so I’m not going to make any predictions about podiums. I’m taking everything step by step. Of course, it would be amazing to finish in the top three here, and that’s the ultimate goal. At the same time, I also want to win, but realistically, a podium is the highest achievable at this moment.”
The Added Pressure of a Home Race
“This weekend will be emotionally and mentally very demanding,” Antonelli emphasized. “I will have to conserve my energy very well. A regular race weekend is already exhausting, but here it naturally doubles. Fortunately, I have a good team around me and we have prepared well – everyone is aware that it’s going to be tough. That being said, the energy at Imola will be amazing, and I can certainly use that on the track.”
To add to the pressure, Antonelli must also juggle his racing commitments with his final exams. “I can’t go to school, but I’m doing my best to study as much as possible,” he explained. “My school is helping me with that. It’s not easy, as it also takes effort and energy. Especially in the run-up to a weekend like this, it’s important not to overdo it. Where I can, I try to keep up with my homework.”
In order not to lose touch with his classmates, he invited them to come to Imola this weekend. “For them, it’s a good way to see what this job entails,” Antonelli concluded. “Of course, they watch the races on TV, but now I can show them what happens behind the scenes. I don’t see them much, so these kinds of things can make a difference when trying to maintain relationships.”
