Antonelli admits: “Suzuka? I didn’t enjoy the victory, I was pissed off about the mistake at the start”

Does Kimi Antonelli already have the maturity of a champion? How can you tell if a young driver has the champion’s stigmata or not? It’s difficult to give a clear answer, but what is certain is that if you find reasons for disappointment even on the day of a resounding and historic victory, perhaps it gives some indications that you have that something extra to become even greater in the future. This is the case of Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who during an interview granted to Mara Sangiorgio for Sky admitted that he had not fully enjoyed the triumph at Suzuka and, indeed, that he was decidedly angry with himself after the checkered flag of the last Japanese GP which gave him the first World Championship leadership of his career, also leading him to break a long-standing record. The admission after the mistake at the start in the Japanese GP “Yes, I have to say – explains Kimi Antonelli – that I didn’t enjoy Sunday’s victory in Japan as I would have liked, because I was quite pissed off about the mistake at the start. I was absolutely aware that I had had a lot of luck despite that mistake and so I was very angry. The start was a shock for me, I almost wanted to tear my hair out. But I’m already working on it… to improve the starts the simulator certainly helps, and I will also have the steering wheel with all the my settings. Let’s say that I’m already thinking about how I can improve these starts from a standing start on the grid.” The challenge with George Russell Speaking to the German magazine Bild, the 19-year-old Italian then spoke of his rapid rise to the top of F1: “It’s crazy to see how much interest there is in me. The day after the victory I bought the newspapers, I read them and I’ll keep them, because obviously it gives you pleasure and makes you feel good. But it’s also dangerous… It’s easy to lose concentration and get carried away when everyone praises you. But I’ve also noticed that the expectations of me have changed drastically. That’s why I no longer use the social media on race weekends, to avoid feeling further pressure. Because the truth is that there are still 19 races to go. I want to get more than just one victory, my ultimate goal is to be in contention for the title at the end of the season and then win it.” The biggest threat, then, is the friendly fire of teammate George Russell: “Experience is my biggest weakness compared to drivers like George, without a doubt. That cannot be bought. But I am confident that I would still have a chance if the opportunity arose. I have worked on it for many years and my victory proved that I can beat anyone if I can express my potential. But to do that, I have to get the foundations in place”, concluded Kimi Antonelli.