Ahead of a crucial weekend at the Circuit of the Americas, Kimi Antonelli has shared a glimpse of his humble life away from the high-pressure Formula 1 paddock. As the young star stands on the verge of claiming the 2026 world championship at the United States Grand Prix, he revealed that he still prefers to wash his own road car by hand.
The young Italian sensation arrived in Austin holding a commanding 102-point advantage over his Mercedes teammate George Russell. This weekend presents a historic opportunity for him to become F1's youngest-ever champion and the first Italian titleholder since Alberto Ascari back in 1953.
Speaking during the team's special livery launch event in Austin, the 20-year-old driver explained his at-home maintenance routine involving his personal Mercedes-AMG GT63 road car, deliberately steering clear of automated machine washes.
"I like to clean my car. I never do automatic, you know, with the machine. I always like to wash by hand, myself. Because I love cars, I really like to take care of my car and everything," Antonelli explained.
"I like to see it clean, so it’s an activity I love to do. It’s a routine," he added, highlighting his genuine passion for automotive craftsmanship.
On the engineering front, the race in Austin kicks off an intense triple-header to conclude the 2026 campaign. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff emphasized that the Circuit of the Americas provides a vital opportunity to bounce back following difficult weekends in Malaysia and Singapore.
"Malaysia and Singapore were difficult weekends for us and we have worked hard to understand where we fell short. Austin gives us an opportunity to respond," Wolff stated in the team preview.
The Brackley squad will deploy their latest upgrade package on both cars as the fierce midfield battle continues to intensify down the stretch.
Baca Juga
Simak peluncuran arloji spesial TAG Heuer Formula 1 Solargraph untuk rayakan 10 tahun bersama Red Bull Racing. Baca berita lengkapnya di sini!
Lando Norris terancam catat rekor terburuk juara bertahan F1 sejak 1997. Simak analisis lengkap performa McLaren dan perebutan klasemen di sini.
Simak detail livery spesial Scuderia Ferrari untuk GP Amerika Serikat 2026 di COTA. Baca analisis mendalam mengenai desain dan teknologi terbarunya di sini.
Lanjutkan dengan Google
Diskusi & Komentar (0)
Mari Bergabung dalam Diskusi!
Masuk dengan mudah untuk mulai memberikan komentar, membalas, dan berinteraksi dengan pembaca lainnya.
Komentar Terbaru
Belum ada komentar. Jadilah yang pertama!