Kimi Antonelli revealed that Lewis Hamilton paid him and his former workforce a go to forward of the F1 Belgian Grand Prix.
Antonelli was chosen as Hamilton’s substitute at Mercedes for the 2025 F1 season following the seven-time world champion’s shock choice to go away the workforce.
The Italian has proven flashes of tempo throughout his rookie F1 season.
Antonelli took pole for the Miami dash race with a formidable lap.
He additionally scored his first podium on the Canadian Grand Prix.
Nevertheless, Antonelli has struggled for kind because the begin of the European season.
It has coincided with Mercedes’ dip in kind, with George Russell ending on the rostrum simply as soon as within the final seven races.
Talking after the race at Spa, Antonelli was requested about his chat with Hamilton forward of the race within the Mercedes hospitality.
“He got here to say hello to the workforce, and positively, we had a few phrases,” Antonelli mentioned.
“He was telling me to maintain my head up and that it’s regular to have unhealthy weekends. And simply to maintain believing. It was very nice.”
Hamilton was requested about Antonelli in his post-race interview with Sky Sports activities.
Hamilton conceded that it’s rather a lot on his shoulders, given he’s 18, however mentioned he’s “doing a terrific job”.
“I can’t think about what it’s like at 18 – or attempt to think about what it’s like at 18 – to do what he’s doing,” Hamilton defined.
“He’s been doing incredible. However to be thrown in on the deep finish at 18… he hadn’t even had his driving licence when he first began racing.
“I believe it’s rather a lot on somebody’s shoulders. He’s doing a terrific job and he’s received a terrific group of individuals round him. So, I believe you’ve simply received to take it in your stride, which I believe he’s.
“And he’s received Bono [race engineer Peter Bonnington, who formerly worked with Hamilton] by his facet. He doesn’t have anybody higher.”
One other robust weekend for Antonelli
The Belgian GP was one to overlook for Antonelli, finally.
He was knocked out in Q1 within the two qualifying periods.
“These few laps the place I used to be in free air I positively had much more enjoyable,” he mirrored.
“Then being caught is sort of irritating, as a result of you may’t actually unleash the actual tempo you’ve gotten. As soon as I used to be caught, I used to be two seconds slower unexpectedly.
“It was tough, however I believe I shouldn’t be beginning that far again. I believe I have to work on my qualifying and work to get the boldness again with the automobile as a way to begin extra on the entrance. As a result of in these races the place I began extra on the entrance, it was a very completely different story.”
