Championship leader Antonelli is ready for his home race: “I didn’t think it was possible”
- Bo Helmus
- 2 hours ago
- 5 min read
Written by Bo Helmus
Kimi Antonelli will get behind the wheel for his second home grand prix. He is one of the biggest favourites for the top step of the podium, that is if he wasn’t starting from the back of the grid. Mercedes will add new upgrades to his car, and he will have to climb through the field to get anywhere near the podium.
Despite taking a grid penalty, the Italian is very excited to race in Italy: “It feels very special. Definitely a lot different compared to last year. And I'm very much looking forward to this weekend despite starting from the back. It's also a big opportunity ahead and very much looking forward to it. I think it's going to be very enjoyable. I will be able to enjoy it much more than what I did previously. Hopefully we can still do a great race.”
Home hero
Antonelli is the first Italian driver since Alberto Ascari to lead the championship coming into Monza. He has no time to think about that: “Obviously, it's an incredible moment. I wouldn't have thought that it was possible, that it would have been possible and that it could have happened, this kind of situation.
“But, of course, now that I'm in it, I need to carry on. I need to keep performing and keep delivering the result. But it's a great moment for me, for my team, for my family and for everyone that supports. But we just got to keep pushing, keep raising the bar because it's still a long way.”
To celebrate his home race, Antonelli will reveal a surprise later tonight: “I do have a special helmet that we'll present tonight. And it's a very special helmet in collaboration with a special person, a good friend of mine. And I think it's very, very cool.”
No pressure
Let’s hope the helmet brings good luck, because the young driver needs to start from the back of the grid. Surprisingly, he sees the penalty as a welcome challenge: “I think in some ways it helps to release pressure. Although I'd very much rather fight for pole and start at the front. But in some ways, I feel like it makes me a bit more relaxed going into the weekend.
“And I think also that's why I'm going to be able to enjoy more the driving and the weekend itself. And it's a different opportunity. It's an opportunity to try something different during the weekend, different work method as well, in free practice especially, because we have the chance to do so. So I think it's going to be a very interesting weekend.”
Winning chances
Starting from the back doesn’t mean that there is nothing left to fight for: “I think it's a circuit that could suit us very well. But we've seen how strong McLaren is and how strong they have been in the past two races. Ferrari is going to be certainly on top, especially with the new engine.
“I think our car, despite not having any upgrades since Canada, I think it's still a very strong car. I think this track can be good for us, but we still need to take into account that Ferrari, McLaren, even Red Bull might be quick this weekend. We need to still take into account that especially those two teams will be there at the front.”
Monza is popular for taking grid penalties: “I think because it's a very energy-starved circuit, I think it creates a lot of opportunities to overtake. And that's why this track was the main one. It was the one that we chose to take the penalty because there are other tracks where it's possible to overtake. But this one, because it's very energy-starved and there are a lot of places where you can play differently as well, that gives us the best chance to climb through the field. And that's what we feel is the best, and that's why we took this decision. And hopefully it's going to work out on Sunday.”
Despite not having anything to fight for in quali, Antonelli will try and get as far as possible in the session. His teammate George Russell might get an advantage out of it: “It has been discussed with the team. And, yes, we have agreed on a few things. So let's see how the session develops. But if the team will ask me to do so, I will do it. Because I'm not fighting for… I will still be happy to do pole, but, of course, I'm starting at the back. So, if I could do anything to help the team, I will do it.”
Proving himself
Antonelli will go into his second home grand prix a lot more relaxed than his first: “Last year, I was coming from a difficult period. And I felt like I had to prove myself, to prove that I could belong in F1. So, I feel like also that increased a lot of the pressure on myself, and that made me drive very tense. I wasn't really enjoying the time in the car most of the time last year.
“Whereas this year, obviously, for many reasons, I'm lucky to have a great car, but as well, also the year of experience makes a huge difference. And I feel like much more mature, much more in control of the situation. And then also when you get the good results in, it's always one less thing to prove. And I've proven that I can win. I've proven that I can perform.
“And that's why coming into this weekend, yes, it's my home race, it's great, but at the end of the day it's another race like the others. But for sure, definitely also the year of experience makes a huge difference in the way I approach things as well.”
Birthday boy
Leading the world championship at his home race isn’t the only thing worth celebrating for the Italian. Since last week, he is not a teenager anymore. The team had some surprises planned for him: “I'm pretty scared of what they're planning because it's not over yet. I think today was just the starter of the menu of what's coming. But I got beaten up pretty badly earlier this morning. I don't know how many cakes in the face I've got, but there were a lot.
“I need to stay in the shower for at least 15 minutes just to take off the cream and the smell of cream because it was terrible. I stank a lot. I don't want to give any previews. I think I will act in the moment depending on how I feel, like, how is the situation, but I've got something in my pocket just in case.”
Comments