(Motorsport-Total.com) – Kimi Antonelli is already in the middle of the World Championship battle in his second Formula 1 season. With wins in China and Japan, he took the overall lead this year as the youngest driver ever. Four more Grand Prix victories before the summer break further extended his lead.
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Currently, Antonelli is 59 points ahead of his Mercedes teammate George Russell and Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton. Despite this comfortable position, the young driver is aware that the season is far from decided.
Antonelli does not want to get carried away by success
During the summer break, Antonelli looked back on the previous successes together with his team, as he reveals to F1.com: “We watched some of the races on TV during dinner. We still talked about Formula 1, but in a nice way.”
“We just remembered what we have achieved,” says the current World Championship leader. At the same time, it is crucial for him to properly assess the previous successes and not to focus too early on the possible title.
“You have to be happy about it, but at the same time you must not get carried away and must remain focused,” Antonelli warns. Because he knows: “The work is not done yet. We are only halfway there, and there is still so much that has to happen and so much we can achieve.”
Despite his lead, he sees no reason to lose concentration. The second half of the season still holds many opportunities to change the current World Championship situation.
Tennis legend Federer gives Antonelli important advice
Another important role in Antonelli’s development is played by advice from tennis legend Roger Federer. The Italian met Federer at a Pirelli Hot Laps event and took away a message that apparently also helps him deal with the pressure of the title fight: “Always be yourself and be able to enjoy it.”
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Antonelli attributes an important part of his ability to handle his task more relaxed now to this approach. “When you understand that you also have to enjoy it, it makes a difference,” explains the Mercedes driver.
“Because it helps you, at least that’s how I felt in my case, to drive more relaxed, to have more joy in driving and to feel the car better. Then the performance comes much easier. It is a big difference from the moment when you chase performance and drive tensely.”
Taking positives from difficult situations
Besides the joy of driving, Antonelli places great importance on staying true to himself and properly assessing setbacks. Especially during a long Formula 1 season, difficult situations are inevitable. Then it is about “seeing the positive even in difficult situations,” he emphasizes.
Because mistakes and bad weekends can also have a learning effect: “When something goes wrong, there is always something positive that you can take away from it. You can find it, and it can help you to develop further.”
Antonelli therefore tries to maintain exactly the balance that Federer gave him: stay focused, learn from setbacks, and not lose the joy of driving.
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