Kimi Antonelli likened to Ayrton Senna on his F1 debut for one reason after displaying his ‘pure raw talent’

Kimi Antonelli made the F1 history books again in 2025 as he secured his first podium in the sport at the Canadian Grand Prix.

The Italian first made history in Miami as he became the youngest ever pole sitter in any format by setting the fastest time in Sprint qualifying. Unfortunately, he could not capitalise on the race as he finished down in seventh.

At the Canadian Grand Prix, the Mercedes driver showed strong pace as he overtook championship leader Oscar Piastri at the start for P3. Antonelli held on to secure his maiden podium, making him the third youngest driver in history to finish in the top three.

The result was a much-needed confidence boost for the 18-year-old after a dismal European triple header, with two mechanical retirements and no points. James Allison admitted the triple header took chunks out of Antonelli, but the teenager bounced back superbly in Canada.

F1 fans consider Antonelli a future world champion after securing what will certainly be the first of many podiums. He has been hugely impressive since Toto Wolff gave him a chance at Mercedes, and has even been likened to three-time champion Ayrton Senna.

Kimi Antonelli likened to Ayrton Senna for driving the car on the limit with ‘pure raw talent’ on his F1 debut

Antonelli let the world know how serious a talent he is on his F1 debut at the Australian Grand Prix. Floor damage sustained in qualifying meant the Italian started in P16, with wet weather conditions ahead of him.

Despite almost spinning into the barriers in the opening stages, the rookie showed incredible ability to glide through the field in the rain and finish a brilliant fourth. It was his best result in F1 up until his podium in Montreal, but it will certainly stand as his best performance of 2025 thus far.

His display was ‘that good’ that Robert Doornbos likened him to Senna for his ‘pure raw talent’. The Dutchman spoke on The Pit Talk Podcast about how Antonelli was ‘on the limit’, just like the Brazilian legend was known for, particularly in the wet.

“The way they prepared him is next level. But to prepare somebody and to invest so much time, effort and money like Toto Wolff did with little Kimi Antonelli. He called him small Kimi, but now Grande Kimi,” said Doornbos.

“Because he got the monkey off his back, he’s a podium finisher now in F1 and he can spray the champagne and rightly so.

“I was in Melbourne and it was a tricky opening race of the season and the way he handled this car was pure, raw talent. It was like watching Ayrton Senna drive a car on the limit or Max Verstappen in one of his first races or Vettel.

“It was that good straight away that everybody after Melbourne said: ‘OK, if you can handle in such tricky conditions a Formula 1 car like that on your debut, you’re going to be great’.

“Toto kept his promise with that and he needed this podium, he had two bad races.”

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Kimi Antonelli doesn’t like being compared to Ayrton Senna in F1

Doornbos is not the first person to see similarities between the rookie and the F1 legend. Fans compared Antonelli to Senna before his debut in Melbourne, even giving him the nickname ‘Senninha’.

Antonelli studied videos of Senna as a child and was impressed by his qualifying laps. The Italian may have taken his findings on board with his pole in the Sprint in Miami.

While they are flattering, Antonelli does not like being compared to Senna. He says that, while the Brazilian is his idol and reference, he wants to find his own personality in F1.

The 18-year-old has understandably been taking the pressure off himself, given he has big shoes to fill as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement. He has a long way to go before he can match Senna’s record, but his early performances in F1 hint at a great career.