Andrea Kimi Antonelli, inspired by Senna, credits his parents for their unwavering support, key to his journey in motorsport.
Born in 2006, Andrea Kimi Antonelli is set to become Mercedes F1’s second full-time driver next year, partnering George Russell.
Today, he’ll be back behind the wheel of the W15 (this time, Lewis Hamilton’s car) for Free Practice 1 in Mexico.
Highly promising yet still very inexperienced, can the young Italian live up to the high expectations surrounding him? (See our previous article.)
Nevertheless, even at his age, Andrea Kimi Antonelli has already developed a solid grasp of motorsport’s storied history, drawing inspiration from it to carve his way to the top.
Who, then, would be his greatest idol? Might it be Lewis Hamilton, the very driver he is set to replace? Surprisingly, no. Instead, he looks up to Ayrton Senna, an icon whom Lewis Hamilton also admires deeply.
“Senna is my idol. I never had the chance to see him race live, but I’ve watched videos and, through them, I’ve come to understand just how special he was. That’s why he’s my role model. He always extracted the absolute best from his performances, constantly striving to learn more, and these videos have truly made him my inspiration.”
“I think of Donington in 1993 when he won in the rain, overtaking nearly everyone. Then there’s his legendary lap at Monaco in 1988, or Jerez, where he had two cars in front of him but still managed to claim pole. At Spa, he even stopped his car to turn off the engine after seeing that the driver ahead was unconscious. He was truly one of a kind.”
“He was never afraid to show where he came from. Brazil was in a tough place back then, but he was always proud to be Brazilian and to show it.”
“He wasn’t just a great driver, but also an exceptional person. He had real empathy. My dream is to reach F1 and achieve even a fraction of what he accomplished over his career. He’s my first and foremost influence, my inspiration.”
Andrea Kimi Antonelli then goes on to thank two individuals without whom none of this would have been possible: his parents.
“I wouldn’t be here without them. Many people are involved in this journey and support me, but my parents are central. They first introduced me to the world of motorsport and have helped me navigate every challenging moment since then.”
“This season, especially in the first half, my father has always been by my side, which is essential for me. He’s a strong presence and a key figure in my life, and we share a close bond. He helps me stay calm when I’m feeling a bit nervous.”
“My mother has always been there too, taking me to races and enduring those tough times with me. She’s always been by my side, and I’m genuinely grateful to them because, without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Finally, Andrea Kimi Antonelli acknowledges the unwavering support of Mercedes F1, who have helped shape his career to reach the pinnacle of motorsport, as well as PREMA, his current F2 team.
“They’re like a second family. I spend most of my time with them at the track and have a great connection with both teams, PREMA and Mercedes.”
“They’ve been incredibly supportive, particularly this year with all the media hype. They’ve helped me stay focused, to ignore or manage that noise, and I’m truly grateful. They’re backing me because they genuinely believe in me, which has been a huge source of strength.”
“I know I’ve earned this opportunity with solid results, and thanks to their support, I’m able to go out on track and give my best, knowing they believe in me and fully understand what I’m capable of.”
“They put me in the best possible conditions, which allows me to perform to the very best of my ability.”
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Young Antonelli Follows Senna’s Path, Backed by Family Strength Young Antonelli Follows Senna’s Path, Backed by Family Strength
