Mercedes loved a powerful weekend on the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, with George Russell taking pole place and conserving Max Verstappen at bay to win, and Andrea Kimi Antonelli transferring up from fourth on the grid to complete third. Whereas he’s had a pole place in a Dash occasion earlier than, it’s the primary time Antonelli has been on the rostrum in his rookie season and he says it makes him hungry for extra.
“It was a lot better than what I imagined,” Antonelli stated. “Listening to the group whereas strolling onto the rostrum, I had large goosebumps. That’s undoubtedly a second I’ll keep in mind for a really very long time.
“It offers you a lift – outcomes like this and this sense, you’ll be able to’t purchase this sense. It is a tremendous feeling and also you simply need extra. I feel the objective now could be to attempt to maintain the identical momentum and attempt to obtain extra podiums, and hopefully possibly the primary win – you by no means know.”
Previous to that particular second, Antonelli needed to cope with loads of strain as he had the 2 McLarens closing in through the remaining phases of Sunday’s race, and admits he’d tried to remain too near Verstappen and left himself susceptible late.
“I used to be simply hoping for the race to complete, to be sincere. I used to be even trying on the display counting the laps as a result of it was very anxious,” he stated. “Within the final stint, I pushed a bit too onerous behind Max and finally degraded the entrance left. The previous few laps have been a wrestle, particularly seeing Oscar [Piastri] getting nearer and nearer within the DRS vary. At one level, he even tried to try the overtake in Flip 1. It took plenty of effort.”
Antonelli was praised by Russell after the race and the Italian returned the favor, saying his teammate helps him develop and enhance shortly.
“I am nonetheless conscious there’s plenty of work to do, particularly on the subject of qualifying, making an attempt to be faster initially of the session. However we’re on path,” he stated. “The crew is doing an amazing job. Additionally, with George, he is serving to me to push myself even additional. There is a actually good dynamic within the crew. Hopefully, we will carry this momentum into the subsequent few races.”
