David Coulthard praises Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The young Italian surprised this season with his dominant winning streak between the Grands Prix of China and Monaco and is now even the World Championship leader. However, Coulthard does not expect the Formula 1 success to be limited to one season for Kimi Antonelli, because he shows an important similarity with Max Verstappen: “This will give him a long career”.
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli amazed friend and foe with his impressive performances this season. The young Italian won the first five victories of his Formula 1 career in a row between the Grands Prix of China and Monaco. As a result, Kimi Antonelli has been leading the drivers’ championship for some time now, and according to David Coulthard, he also has a useful tool in ‘his arsenal’ for long-term success in the premier class.
‘Max also has it in his arsenal’
“That boy (Kimi Antonelli, ed.) is really impressive,” Coulthard begins in the Up to Speed podcast. “I think an important factor contributing to that is the communication within the family, the way they approach racing.” The former Red Bull driver then compares Kimi Antonelli’s family situation with that of Max Verstappen. “They are both grounded, and I think this is something Max also has in his arsenal, and others of course as well.”
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“But this will give him a long career. He is not a lottery winner who lets everything go to his head,” Coulthard thinks. “They have found their peace. They live in San Marino, and have their comfort, a small principality. I truly believe his career will last a very long time.”
Kimi Antonelli’s success during his second season in Formula 1 comes after the young Mercedes driver struggled with a dip in form during the European Grands Prix in his debut year. Coulthard praises Mercedes for the continued rock-solid confidence in the young Italian. “Well done, Kimi Antonelli. Also a compliment to Mercedes, who supported him and stood behind him during an interesting, but not exactly great first season in F1,” said the former Formula 1 driver. “It was clearly a good learning experience.”
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