«My life has changed but I'm happy» - Interview with Kimi Antonelli On the eve of the Monza Grand Prix, we met the official driver of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula 1 Team
The first time is never forgotten, and Kimi Antonelli won’t easily forget the welcome his fans gave him for his first Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Credit to adidas, which prepared a special event involving the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team official driver for the occasion. First, a meet and greet at the Brand Center on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, where the car and the suit with the three stripes were also on display. Then a greeting to the hundreds of fans who had gathered in Largo Augusto since the morning to discover THE PILOT HEARTBEAT, the immersive installation that recreates the emotions of a real race, open until Sunday, September 7, where fans can also find two driving simulators. That’s where we met him to better understand how a 19-year-old, who after 5,723 days brought the Italian flag back to an F1 podium, manages pressure and lives with fame.
What does the collaboration between adidas and Mercedes represent for you? And can you tell us what it was like to wear the jacket with CLIMACOOL technology for the first time?
“It’s definitely a source of pride; adidas collections are all really nice. And I certainly don’t have a clothes problem anymore. The CLIMACOOL looks like an astronaut’s jacket, but it keeps us cool all the time. I felt very comfortable.”
There are hundreds of fans here for you, ready to cheer you on: did you expect such a reception?
“It’s wonderful; it keeps growing. I’m proud, and this sport wouldn’t be the same without these fans. They make it special.”
Some fans have been waiting for you since 7 a.m. Would you have done that for any driver?
“I would have done it for my idol: Ayrton Senna. I would have done it for Lewis Hamilton as well.”
What’s your relationship with Lewis Hamilton like?
“I have a good relationship with him. He’s been very kind to me and has given me some advice.”
And how have the more experienced drivers treated all the rookies?
“In general, the veterans have been kind to us, especially Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. We’ve gotten along well; we rookies thought we might be a bit left out, but instead we’re already part of the group. It’s a nice thing.”
The rookie you get along with best?
“Isack Hadjar. And of course Oliver Bearman.”
And Alonso?
“Alonso is the rookie par excellence. I think he started racing before I was even born. He’ll always be a rookie to us. I met him for the first time in 2018 at Monza; I was a grid boy and had the chance to meet all the drivers. Including Kimi Räikkönen, of course.”
Is it true that the first time you entered an F1 paddock they hid you in a stack of tires? Can you tell us what happened?
“Yes, it’s true. It was 2014 at Hockenheim, and I was too young to enter the pit lane. So I snuck into the tire cart. Luckily I got through. Then I even managed to get into the garage. It was a wonderful experience.”
At the Canadian Grand Prix you brought Italy back to an F1 podium for the first time since 2009: what did you feel in that moment?
“An extraordinary experience, and the goal is obviously to get another one here at Monza.”
The name Kimi recalls a legendary driver like Räikkönen. But if your parents had chosen a name inspired by a football legend, which would you have wanted to carry? In honor of which football phenomenon?
“I don’t know. I’m a big fan of Messi, but I don’t know what name my parents would have given me because they don’t really follow football. Leo Antonelli? I don’t know… Let’s just say I’m happy with my name.”
Do you have other sporting passions besides F1? We know you’re a Bologna fan…
“Yes, I’m a Bologna fan. I like basketball, tennis, and also going to watch MotoGP. In Miami I was supposed to go see an NBA playoff game, but unfortunately I couldn’t, and I was really disappointed. Maybe at the end of the season.”
Is there anything in your private life that has remained unchanged since you’ve been in F1? And what do you miss the most?
“I don’t miss anything. It’s part of the game and you expect it. In fact, it’s really nice. When you see a lot of people supporting you, it’s a beautiful thing. Even when I get stopped in the street it doesn’t bother me; I’m happy, and if I can, I always try to satisfy everyone. My life has changed, but I’m happy.”
And what’s your relationship with social media?
“I don’t look at social media that much, especially on race weekends, because the goal is to stay focused on what you have to do on track.”
On that note, you mentioned you’ve changed your pre-race routine. How does it work?
“I’m very superstitious, so during warm-up I always do the same exercises, I fold my clothes in the same order and put them away the same way. I always get in and out of the car from the same side, the left side.”
What was your first impact with all the buttons on the steering wheel? Do you still have trouble today understanding how they work?
“Fortunately, I’ve memorized them all now, but it’s hard because you have to follow a lot of procedures and know by heart where all the buttons are. It’s not easy, especially while you’re driving. Luckily I know them all now, because if I make a mistake then Bono (Peter Bonnington, his race engineer, ed.) isn’t very happy.”
