After a challenging European leg of the season, Andrea Kimi Antonelli seems to be back on track. The Mercedes prodigy was even faster than his teammate George Russell in Brazil. He managed to outperform Russell in both the sprint race and the São Paulo Grand Prix. According to Antonelli, the two drivers constantly push each other, which benefits the team.
Antonelli had a tough European season, scoring only three points and retiring four times, two of which were due to issues with the Mercedes engine. However, since Formula 1 left the European part of the championship, the Italian driver has been showing strong performances again. After his podium in Brazil, he openly discussed his relationship with teammate George Russell: “My relationship with George is definitely developing. It’s logical that he’s not happy when he finishes behind me, just as I’m never happy when I finish behind him,” he told Sky Italia.
Antonelli emphasized that there is a lot of respect between him and Russell. “Our relationship has changed and will continue to evolve, but there is a lot of mutual respect and a great team dynamic, because we constantly push each other to a higher level.” The podium in Brazil also had a personal meaning for Antonelli. “It was an incredibly emotional result, because in the months before, I went through a very dark period. Overcoming this makes this podium very special on a personal level.”
