No Italian driver has secured the F1 drivers’ championship since Alberto Ascari’s victories in 1952 and 1953.
Kimi Antonelli’s dominant performance at the Miami Grand Prix, marking his third consecutive win, was hailed as “something special” by 1996 world champion Damon Hill.
“We witnessed this young driver demonstrating his enormous potential, and I’m genuinely impressed by how he has handled himself this season,” Hill commented on BBC Radio 5 Live.
Hill further noted that the 19-year-old Antonelli is “overshadowing” his teammate George Russell, who began the season as the favorite but now faces a 20-point deficit in the championship standings after just four races.
Antonelli’s triumph also signifies another significant milestone for the Italian driver.
Already recognized as the youngest pole winner and the youngest driver to lead the championship, Antonelli is now only the third driver in Formula 1 history to secure his first three pole positions consecutively, joining the ranks of legends Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher.
Additionally, he joins Hill and Mika Hakkinen as the only drivers to win their first three races in a row.
All four of these drivers have been crowned world champions, with two often mentioned in discussions about the greatest driver of all time. While it may be premature to include Antonelli in such debates, his impact this season has been undeniable.
This is only Antonelli’s second season in Formula 1. His first showed occasional promise, but nothing that suggested this was going to come next.
While Mercedes may have the superior car, and Russell faced unfortunate circumstances in both the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix, which he could have potentially won.
Antonelli’s remarkable improvement this season should not be overlooked.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff celebrates the Miami victory with Antonelli
Antonelli’s presence in F1 is largely attributed to Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team principal, who recognized his potential in karting at the age of 11 and has since mentored him.
Wolff made the bold decision to bring Antonelli in as a replacement for Lewis Hamilton after just two years of racing, facing some criticism for potentially pushing him too soon.
Wolff stated: “Looking at his journey, from karting to junior formulas, his performance has been consistently outstanding. His current development aligns perfectly with our expectations from last year.”
“We’ve experienced moments of brilliance alongside opportunities for him to learn from his mistakes.”
“We focused on guiding him while managing the pressure. He has a great ability to analyze situations without overthinking them. He can compartmentalize errors and move forward.”
“Starting this season, he had the benefit of observing previous grands prix, working closely with the team, and understanding the media pressure.”
“It’s easier to moderate someone who is naturally driven. You can’t force enthusiasm. This race was his best yet, reminiscent of his karting and Formula 4 days.”
“We need to remain composed, as this level of success for a young driver will bring intense scrutiny from Italy.”
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For Russell, this period could be particularly challenging. As a Mercedes protégé himself, he has spent eight years awaiting this opportunity with the team’s best car.
Last year, he was generally the stronger driver, with Antonelli only occasionally outperforming him, solidifying his status as a pre-season championship favorite.
The Briton, 28, initially justified this expectation by winning the season’s opening race in Australia from pole position, but circumstances have since shifted against him.
A technical issue likely cost him pole position in China, which Antonelli capitalized on to secure his maiden win. In Japan, a safety car intervention handed Antonelli the victory, potentially denying McLaren’s Oscar Piastri or Russell the win.
However, the Miami win was unequivocal. Antonelli secured pole position, while Russell qualified fifth, behind upgraded cars from Red Bull, McLaren, and Ferrari.
Despite a poor start, Antonelli maintained composure, fought back, and ultimately overtook McLaren’s Lando Norris during the pit stop phase.
Norris initially attributed this to a McLaren error, hesitating to pit too early due to the threat of rain.
However, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella clarified that they still had the margin to stay ahead of Antonelli when they pitted three laps later, but a series of factors worked against them.
Firstly, Antonelli gained significant time on his first lap after his pit stop. While this risked overheating his tires, it ensured he remained within striking distance of the McLaren.
Norris then made a couple of errors on his in-lap and experienced a slow pit stop. These combined factors allowed Antonelli to close in on Norris as he exited the pits. The Mercedes quickly overtook, and Antonelli defended his lead for the remainder of the race.
Russell remains focused, acknowledging that with 18 races still to come, anything can happen.
“He’s clearly in a good rhythm and has the momentum,” Russell stated. “However, based on my championship experience and how momentum shifts throughout the year, and considering last year’s championship, I’m not focused on it.”
“My priority is to return to the top step of the podium. I had the performance to do so in the first three races, but not this weekend.”
“While the outcomes in Japan and China could have been different, that’s the nature of Formula 1.”
Russell admitted that his “pace was poor,” and that he has struggled to adapt to the Miami circuit with its low-grip surface and slow corners.
Hill remarked: “You can’t afford to dislike a track. You need to perform consistently across all circuits. George needs to regroup and reassess his position in this new situation.”
Antonelli hugs his mother, Veronica, and father, Marco, after winning in Miami
During a media address after the race, Wolff acknowledged the role of Antonelli’s father, Marco, in keeping his son grounded.
“The risk is that he gets carried away too quickly,” Wolff said. “We trust that his parents will keep him grounded, right, Marco?”
Antonelli Sr responded: “Right.”
Wolff continued: “Ensuring he remains grounded within the team is the easier part. His parents have played a significant role in this.
“The bigger challenge lies with the Italian public. With Italy’s absence from the World Cup, attention is now focused on Jannik Sinner (tennis number one) and Antonelli.”
“Sinner’s victory in Madrid and Antonelli’s success have made them superstars, leading to numerous requests from the media and sponsors. It’s our responsibility to manage this.”
“He has a highly competitive teammate and the competition is closing in. We’re focused on the long term.”
“Hopefully, he’ll win many championships over the next 10 to 15 years, and we don’t want to jeopardize that with unrealistic expectations. A single mistake or bad race could lead to doubts about his potential.”
Hill concluded: “His confidence is soaring. While early success can sometimes lead to overconfidence, his performance this weekend justifies his belief in himself.”
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