Kimi Antonelli admits Formula 1 can be brutal, yet at just 20 years old, the Mercedes driver is thriving, leading the championship by 59 points over George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.
Ahead of the Italian GP at Monza, Antonelli reflects on his rocky debut season, public scrutiny, and his quest to become Italy's first world champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953.
A Brutal Debut That Built Character
Last season, Antonelli nearly drowned in speculation about his future. But with team and family support, he bounced back, proving he is a special talent.
The Qatar incident last year, when he was accused of deliberately letting Lando Norris pass, was a low point. "Being accused of something I would never do on purpose, that was tough," he says.
Monza: Starting Last for the Title
To keep his title hopes alive, Antonelli accepts a grid penalty that drops him to the back. He believes overtaking opportunities at Monza make this the right call.
"Being Italian, I know expectations can be very high. But I'm also happy about the support I've received," he says.
Title Dream and the National Anthem
Antonelli hopes to deliver a world title for Italy. He jokes that his team will need to learn the lyrics of the Italian national anthem.
"If I achieve the goal by the end of the year, I'll print the lyrics so they can sing it," he says, eyes gleaming.
Baca Juga
Kimi Antonelli terancam gagal di GP Italia meski prediksi Alonso. Ferrari meningkat, Mercedes waspada. Simak analisis lengkapnya di Sportrik.
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