2016 Formula 1 champion Nico Rosberg has revealed the early role he played in shaping Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s F1 career.
Speaking on Sky Sports F1, Rosberg shared details about his financial contribution and mentorship during the Italian driver’s karting years, when he raced for Rosberg Racing Academy. The former driver explained:
“He was in my karting team. And I even had to put in some of my own money because Mercedes were being such cheapskates that they didn’t pay up the whole budget,” he jokingly added.
“It was a tiny amount but I had to put in a bit myself. He was one of the best go-karting drivers we have ever seen in the history of go-karting. He has the level of talent like [Lewis] Hamilton, [Max] Verstappen.
“But, of course, he’s very young and so you need to gain the experience first, and we are seeing that. It has been a bit up and down so far but we have already seen the flashes of extreme brilliance with his pole position in Miami. This weekend he has been making a lot of progress, he is only two-and-a bit-tenths off George [Russell] now. Maybe he can get a bit closer. I wish him all the best, it’s an important weekend for him now.”
Antonelli signed with Mercedes for the 2025 F1 season after seven-time champion Hamilton made his blockbuster move to Ferrari. The Italian has had an impressive start to the season so far, and is currently seventh in the drivers’ standings with 48 points – the highest of all the rookies this year.
The Spanish Grand Prix weekend has been no different for the 18-year-old as he qualified sixth for the race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya tomorrow. Commenting on what he feels will be a “difficult race,” Antonelli explained after qualifying:
Nico Rosberg, Sky F1, on the grid
Photo by: Mark Sutton
“After two difficult race weekends, it is good to be back in a good rhythm. It took me some time to build up my speed at the start of the session, but I started to gain a lot of confidence lap after lap.
“Unfortunately, with only one set of new soft tyres for Q3, I was slightly limited. I wasn’t able to take quite as much risk, and I know there was a couple of tenths to grab here and there, but overall, P6 is a great comeback from where I had been earlier in the weekend.
“It is going to be a difficult race tomorrow with these hot temperatures. Preserving the tyres will be a real challenge for the whole field. That is why we deliberately have focused on our long run pace this weekend as we know it is an area we need to improve in.
“Tomorrow will be a good test of the progress we have made, and I am hopeful that we can put in a competitive showing.”
