Andrea Kimi Antonelli is preparing for his first home Grand Prix as a Formula 1 driver.
The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix is the first stop on the European leg of the F1 season.
It begins a triple header that includes Monaco and Barcelona, and Kimi Antonelli will be looking to build on the strong form he’s shown since his Mercedes promotion over the winter.
Antonelli became the youngest driver ever to set the fastest time during a qualifying session at the Miami Grand Prix but will need to top a Saturday session to officially secure his first pole position.
It’s one of the few age-related records that Red Bull driver Max Verstappen no longer holds, although the Dutchman already knows that his youngest race winner accolade is safe for now.
| Position | Drivers’ Championship | Points |
| 1 |
Oscar Piastri |
131 |
| 2 |
Lando Norris |
115 |
| 3 |
Max Verstappen |
99 |
| 4 |
George Russell |
93 |
| 5 |
Charles Leclerc |
53 |
| 6 |
Andrea Kimi Antonelli |
48 |
| 7 |
Lewis Hamilton |
41 |
| 8 |
Alexander Albon |
30 |
| 9 |
Esteban Ocon |
14 |
| 10 |
Lance Stroll |
14 |
The pair have already battled on the track this season, with Mercedes thrilled by Antonelli’s move on Verstappen in Bahrain.
There’s a lot that Antonelli can learn from the 27-year-old this season, especially when it comes to dealing with the pressure of racing in Formula 1 so young.
He’s now claimed that many people have got the ‘wrong idea’ about the four-time world champion after getting to know Verstappen better this season.
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Kimi Antonelli says people have the ‘wrong idea’ about Max Verstappen
Antonelli was talking to the Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport ahead of the first race in Italy this season.
The teenager was asked whether he gets along with Verstappen and said, “I think people can get the wrong idea about Max: on the track, he’s an animal but off it, he’s a very nice guy.
“We really like GT and simulator racing, we have a lot in common.”
Verstappen recently took part in a GT3 session at the Nordschleife, while Antonelli was also testing sports cars after the race in Miami.
The fact that Lando Norris is also very close with Verstappen despite their title battle last season highlights how different he is on the track and in everyday life.
Norris was criticised for his relationship with Verstappen last season, but the Dutchman may be living under the adage keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli addresses replacing Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes
If someone had told Antonelli at the start of the year that a quarter of the way through the season he would be ahead of Lewis Hamilton in the drivers’ championship, he would have been delighted.
They have each secured a Sprint Race pole position, and while Antonelli couldn’t repeat Hamilton’s feat of going on to win their respective events, he currently has a seven-point advantage over the seven-time world champion.
| Position | Constructors’ Standings | Points |
| 1 |
McLaren Racing |
246 |
| 2 |
Mercedes-AMG Petronas |
141 |
| 3 |
Red Bull Racing |
105 |
| 4 |
Scuderia Ferrari |
94 |
| 5 |
Williams F1 Team |
37 |
| 6 |
Haas F1 Team |
20 |
| 7 |
Aston Martin F1 Team |
14 |
| 8 |
Racing Bulls |
8 |
| 9 |
Alpine F1 Team |
7 |
| 10 |
Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber |
6 |
Antonelli was asked if the comparison to Hamilton weighs on him and answered, “No because I know I’m not his replacement.
“I simply feel like the new Mercedes driver and I’m grateful for the opportunity that has been given to me.”
Antonelli addressed how he’s coped with the pressure of replacing Hamilton earlier in the season and doesn’t appear to be impacted by the expectation on him.
Some believe Antonelli is already doing a better job than Hamilton, but it all comes down to where both drivers finish the campaign after the chequered flag flies in Abu Dhabi before a full assessment can be made.
