Kimi Antonelli is engaged in his first title fight in Formula 1. The young Mercedes driver experienced bad luck during the recent Grands Prix in Barcelona and Silverstone, after previously surprising with his streak of five consecutive wins. None other than tennis legend Roger Federer gave the young driver advice on how to get back in the saddle: ‘He just told me that I really need to focus on one race at a time’.
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Kimi Antonelli is still the World Championship leader, but since the end of his winning streak in Monaco, he has only been on the podium once. In Barcelona, the young Italian retired, while in Silverstone he finished outside the top ten due to damage and a time penalty. After the British GP, Kimi Antonelli stopped by Wimbledon, where the famous tennis tournament was taking place at that time.
Roger Federer
The Mercedes driver also spoke with Roger Federer there. The legendary tennis player won Wimbledon eight times, among other achievements, and therefore had some advice for the young Italian amid his first title fight. “Regarding pressure, he just told me that I really had to focus on one race at a time,” Antonelli reveals to the media in Spa. “I have to focus only on what I can control myself, and also keep my emotions in check, especially those emotions that can cause you to make mistakes. Those were the main pieces of advice. Besides that, it was an incredible experience to be part of this.”
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Kimi Antonelli also plans to follow that advice from the tennis legend, he further explains. “I just have to make the most of every opportunity I get, and the things I can influence, and then we’ll see how the rest goes,” says the young World Championship leader. “It’s part of the sport and the team is doing a great job to ensure that all the problems (of Mercedes in the recent Grands Prix, ed.) do not happen again.”
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Read everything about the Belgian GP here
