Kimi Antonelli: Winter seemed incredibly long

      At Thursday's press conference, Mercedes debutant Andrea Kimi Antonelli was happy and optimistic - his career is just beginning.…

      Q: Kimi, this is your first Grand Prix weekend. You've dreamed about it many times, how do you feel when it becomes a reality?Andrea Kimi Antonelli: First of all, hello everyone! Yes, it's amazing. A dream come true. I've been waiting for this all my life. The winter seemed incredibly long to me, but it's over and now I'm very happy to be here. It's a great place for the first Grand Prix, and I'm looking forward to getting on the track. I wonder what results we can achieve.

      Q: What are your goals for the weekend?Andrea Kimi Antonelli: It's hard to say. The thing is, I do not know what to expect, because this is my first Grand Prix.

      I don't want to set my goals too high – I just want to have a clean weekend, find a good rhythm, and then move on.

      Q: Last year, you were Lewis' teammate, if I may say so, and now you have become his rival. How do you feel now?Andrea Kimi Antonelli: It feels unusual. I grew up with Lewis, watching him succeed. When I joined Mercedes, it was incredibly successful. Now it seems a little strange to me that I will be sharing the track with him, with Carlos, with all the racers I used to see on TV. I can't believe it.

      I worked with a Mercedes car last year, and Lewis gave me some tips. He has always been kind to me, and I am very grateful to him. He's not only a great racer, but also a great person.

      Q: Will the experience of racing in Formula 2 help you this weekend?Andrea Kimi Antonelli: Of course. I know the track well, I don't need to learn it, I understand where to overtake and where to defend best. Last year's Formula 2 stage will help me a lot now.