Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League is the stage where 17-year-old young talent, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, is causing a sensation. Many are drawing comparisons between his rise and the prodigious rise of Max Verstappen. In fact, Antonelli is even considered the favorite to replace Lewis Hamilton at the Mercedes Formula 1 team in 2025.
Hailing from Bologna, Antonelli is commonly called Kimi by those around him. However, his full name, Andrea, is reserved for close family and official F2 timing screens. It won’t be long before you start hearing more about him, possibly as early as 2025. Mercedes seems willing to let other top drivers sign with different teams without any resistance, while patiently evaluating Antonelli’s performance in the F2 season with Prema Racing. This puts him in a privileged position to fill Hamilton’s shoes.
Antonelli caught the racing world’s attention through his achievements in karting. He even won the same CIK-FIA European Karting Championship that Verstappen had won, consecutively in 2020 and 2021. Joining Mercedes as a junior in 2019, Antonelli made the transition to single-seaters in 2021, starting his career with Prema. In 2022, he dominated the Italian F4, winning 13 out of 20 races. The following year, he continued his winning streak in the German F4, triumphing in nine out of 15 races. These successes led him to win the European Formula Regional title in 2023, paving the way for his move to F2 in 2024.
Unlike his teammate in F2, Ollie Bearman, who made a direct jump from F4 to F3, Antonelli followed a slightly different path competing in the Regional championship. This decision means he faces a steeper learning curve this year, adapting to new tracks and the Pirelli tires used in F3, but not in Formula Regional. Additionally, the transition from Regional to F2 implies a significant increase in speed, requiring Antonelli to adapt to more power and downforce.
However, Antonelli had a promising start to the year. Despite Prema’s below-par performance in Bahrain, he outperformed Bearman in both races. In Saudi Arabia, he was only slightly over two tenths of a second behind Bearman’s pole time. Overall, Antonelli achieved four top-10 finishes in six starts on tracks he had never raced on before.
All eyes are now on the upcoming tests in Barcelona, as Antonelli prepares for the European leg of the season. These tests will allow him to become more familiar with the car and gain an advantage at the upcoming tracks, potentially leading to better performance compared to the early stages. Additionally, Antonelli will participate in Formula 1 tests in April, driving a 2021-spec Mercedes. Although these tests were planned before Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes, they have now been expanded.
There is speculation that Antonelli could follow in the footsteps of George Russell and join Williams in 2025, or possibly even in the second half of 2024. However, he will have to wait until he turns 18 on August 25 before he can drive in F1 race weekends.
If Antonelli looks familiar to you, but you can’t remember where you’ve seen him before, it may be because he appeared in a movie called ‘Veloce come il vento’ (Italian Race in English) when he was just 10 years old. Perhaps that’s where you recognize him from?
Antonelli’s favorite Italian expression is ‘Mamma Mia’, but only when accompanied by a specific hand gesture. He admits that his worst habit is “playing too much on the simulator when I need to study.” Numbers!
One of Antonelli’s biggest irritations is when someone pushes the seat from behind on a plane. Good choice, Kimi.
It is not clear whether Kimi Raikkonen influenced Antonelli’s name. Some reports suggest that Antonelli’s father was a fan of Raikkonen, while others claim that the similarity in names is just a coincidence.
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An exciting football match took place last night at the local stadium. The rival teams, led by football stars, faced off in a action-packed showdown. The fans were ecstatic and the atmosphere was electrifying.
In the first half, the home team scored the first goal, leaving the visitors at a disadvantage. However, they didn’t give up and soon equalized the game. The intense competition continued throughout the regular time, with both teams seeking victory.
It was in the second half that the visiting team managed to score the winning goal. With a precise shot, the striker made the ball hit the back of the net, leaving the fans in a frenzy. The entire stadium vibrated with the achievement.
Despite the defeat, the home team showed an excellent performance. The goalkeeper made incredible saves and the players demonstrated skill and determination. The match was a true spectacle of football.
Fans are already eager for the next game, where they hope to see more excitement and great plays. The rivalry between the teams promises to make the match even more intense. Don’t miss this exciting showdown!
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