(Motorsport-Total.com) – Kimi Antonelli does not want to let the title fight influence him despite his lead in the Formula 1 World Championship. After his home victory in Monza, the Mercedes driver leads the championship, but he consciously wants to avoid thoughts about the overall standings when he gets into the car.
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“I really don’t want to drive and think about the championship at the same time,” says Antonelli. Monza showed that this approach works for him. There he did not drive with the championship in mind, but solely with the goal of winning and giving his best.
However, the 20-year-old does not rule out an exception for the future. At certain decisions, the championship standings could eventually play a role. What he definitely wants to avoid, however, is constantly thinking about the championship already during practice, qualifying, or the race.
Go-karting against the Monza high
Antonelli also has to deal with the pressure as the championship leader. It is not always easy. After the Monza weekend, he was initially very excited. What helped him afterwards was a trip to go-karting on Monday. The day spent with the team brought him back down to earth and at the same time reminded him of his own beginnings.
“It was also a way to remind myself where I come from and the path I have taken,” explains Antonelli. At the same time, go-karting was fun, helped him with training, and ensured that he calmed down after the emotional days in Monza.
Antonelli consciously tries to deal with the pressure positively. “I try to accept it as best as I can. I try to see it as something positive and as an opportunity to shine,” he says.
This attitude also helps him stay calm in difficult situations. Antonelli does not want to suppress the pressure but accept it as part of his current situation.
“We are both on the same level”
Despite his championship lead, Antonelli does not see himself as the number one driver at Mercedes. The team continues to treat him and George Russell equally. “Within Mercedes, I don’t feel like there is a number one driver in the team because the team rightly wants to give us the same opportunities,” says Antonelli.
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Russell is an exceptional driver and has also shown strong form in the last two races. “I don’t feel like the true leader. I feel that we are both on the same level, and that is the right way,” explains the Italian.
The championship lead apparently does not change Antonelli’s fundamental position within the team. What remains crucial for him is to get the same opportunities as Russell and focus on his own performance.
WhatsApp explodes after the home win
It was quite different on his smartphone after the Monza triumph. Antonelli received so many congratulations that even WhatsApp was apparently overwhelmed. “I actually got a lot. When I went into the app after the race, I had so many messages that the app crashed,” Antonelli recounts.
He opened the app and practically left it immediately without even doing anything on the phone. “I went into the app and out again without even touching the phone because it exploded,” he says.
Among the congratulators were also several well-known motorcycle riders. Antonelli mentioned Marco Bezzecchi and Valentino Rossi, among others. But what impressed him most was the sheer amount of support.
“It was really nice to see so much support and also so much enthusiasm and excitement,” says Antonelli. Therefore, it is difficult for him to highlight a single message.
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