I aspire to surpass Russell - Antonelli.
"I'm in Formula 1 to be the fastest."
Kimi Antonelli has noted that his relationship with George Russell has evolved since he joined Formula 1, emphasizing that he is not in the sport merely to equal him but to surpass him. In an extensive interview with Blick, the 19-year-old Mercedes newcomer described his initial season as a "rollercoaster," particularly after a mid-season dip that resulted in only 3 points from nine races in Europe.
"Before Montreal, I would rate myself an 8 or 8.5, but then it fell to a 5," he shared. "I had expectations that were not met. I wasn't comfortable in the cockpit, felt pressure, and made mistakes I usually wouldn't."
Antonelli mentioned that both his father and team principal Toto Wolff provided the hard-hitting advice he needed to turn things around.
"After Monza, they both really gave me a wake-up call," he revealed. "Those critiques stung, but I required that reset. I wouldn't have pulled myself out of that situation alone."
The youthful Italian also chuckled about the reason behind his middle name, Kimi, clarifying that it isn’t related to Raikkonen, adding that Ayrton Senna was his only childhood idol.
Regarding his relationship with teammate Russell, Antonelli stated that it has progressed as he builds his confidence.
"Yes, we have a positive relationship – he’s very professional," he noted. "But my goal isn’t to just reach his level. No, I want to be better than him and everyone else. I’m in Formula 1 to be the fastest, not just the fastest in my team."
In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Antonelli smiled while acknowledging that he can't fully enjoy the Las Vegas weekend like most other drivers due to his age.
"I can’t really do anything in Las Vegas because I’m not yet 21," he joked. "So let’s focus on performing well on the track."
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