Antonnelli: Competing in F1 is like swimming in the sea with sharks.

      Kimi Antonielli, who debuted in Formula 1 with Mercedes this year at the age of 18, is considered a very talented driver, which he has already partly confirmed by reaching the podium in Canada. The young Italian openly admits that he dreams of becoming the first representative of his country after Alberto Ascari to win the world championship.

      "Competing in Formula 1 is like swimming in a shark-filled sea," Kimi said in an interview with Milan-based magazine Sette, summarizing the first half of his debut season. "You can fall into a trap and be eaten instantly. I realized this in Imola. That’s when I understood how important it is to find time to be alone with yourself. There are moments when I am alone in the motorhome, in a quiet place where I can disconnect from everything..."

      In the same interview, he also spoke about his personal life, including his girlfriend, Czech karting driver Elishek Babichkova, the 2023 Italian champion: "She knows my world, understands how much time work takes, and understands that you have to make sacrifices. When she comes to the track to watch a race involving me, it’s great support for me..."

      Talking about his idols, Antonielli started with Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner, a recent Wimbledon winner: "I would like to meet him. I am impressed by his psychological preparation, which shows during matches, especially when things aren’t going well. How many times has he managed to turn things around in similar situations?"

      Among the Formula 1 heroes of the past, Kimi mainly mentioned Ayrton Senna: "I would ask him how he managed to overcome the fear of crashes and drive even faster. Because when you have an accident, it’s a little scary. But we drivers don’t think about that; you get used to it."

      Of course, Valentino Rossi, the famous Italian motorcycle racer and nine-time world champion, is also one of those Antonielli looks up to: "I would love to have his ability to surround himself with the right people and to prioritize those who can help achieve the maximum possible results on the track."

      Although Kimi Antonielli is only 18 years old, he has a fairly clear idea of what he needs to strive for: "I know that the last Italian F1 champion was Ascari. Will I be the next? That is my goal. Finishing on the podium in Canada was great, but honestly, I was a little disappointed at the same time. Because our car was capable of fighting for victory, and the race was won by George Russell, my teammate at Mercedes. Although if I hadn’t made a small mistake in qualifying..."