“The best thing Marco Antonelli has done for his son”

Sky Sports F1’s Karun Chandhok believes Kimi Antonelli driving for Mercedes rather than Ferrari has taken pressure off the Italian star. Antonelli joined the Mercedes junior programme at 11 and replaced Lewis Hamilton last year; his father Marco had held talks with Ferrari, but the Scuderia didn’t want to sign someone so young, whereas Mercedes were willing to take the risk.

“I actually think by not making him a Ferrari junior... and going down the Mercedes path, is actually the best thing that Marco Antonelli has done for his son. It’s taken the pressure off in so many ways,” Chandhok said on The F1 Show. “Could you imagine if he was there as a Ferrari Italian driver? The pressure would be unbelievable. And Mercedes have done a fantastic job of nurturing him and bringing him here.”

A generational talent

David Croft called Antonelli a “generational talent” who is “keeping his feet on the ground,” noting he was pranked with cream pies in the paddock on his birthday and “absolutely revelled in it.” Chandhok added that today’s drivers are moulded from a younger age than the generation of Fernando Alonso or Michael Schumacher, who only signed professional contracts by the time they were in F3.

Antonelli, 20 and 66 points clear in the title race, has played down Ferrari links, saying “as much as Ferrari is massive, incredible brand, I am very happy where I am” — though Chandhok hopes he may one day drive in red. “For the sake of the sport and the sake of Ferrari, I hope, a bit like Lewis, in 10, 15 years’ time when Kimi’s achieved a whole lot of things, maybe he will become a Ferrari driver.”