World Championship leader Kimi Antonelli doesn’t want to let his current success distract him—advice from tennis legend Roger Federer is helping the 20-year-old do just that
Kimi Antonelli is already in the thick of the World Championship race in his second Formula 1 season. With victories in China and Japan, he took the overall lead this year as the youngest driver ever to do so. Four more Grand Prix wins before the summer break further extended his lead.
Antonelli currently leads by 59 points over his Mercedes teammate George Russell and Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton. Despite this comfortable position, the young driver is aware that the season is far from decided.
Antonelli Doesn’t Want to Get Carried Away by Success
During the summer break, Antonelli looked back on his successes so far with his team, as he revealed to F1.com: “We watched some of the races on TV over dinner. We were still talking about Formula 1, but in a nice way.”
“We just took a moment to remember what we’ve achieved,” says the current championship leader. At the same time, he believes it’s crucial to put these successes into perspective and not get ahead of himself regarding a potential title.
“You have to be happy about it, but at the same time, you can’t let it go to your head—you have to stay focused,” Antonelli cautions. Because he knows: “The work isn’t done yet. We’re only halfway there, and there’s still so much that needs to happen, and so much we can achieve.”
Despite his lead, he sees no reason to lose focus. The second half of the season still holds many opportunities to change the current World Championship standings.
Tennis Legend Federer Gives Antonelli Important Advice
Advice from tennis legend Roger Federer also plays a key role in Antonelli’s development. The Italian met Federer at a Pirelli Hot Laps event and took away a message that apparently helps him cope with the pressure of the title race: “Always stay true to yourself and be able to enjoy it.”
Antonelli credits this approach with playing a major role in his ability to now approach his task with greater ease. “When you understand that you also have to enjoy it, it makes a difference,” explains the Mercedes driver.
“Because it helps you—at least that’s how I’ve felt in my case—to drive more relaxed, to enjoy driving more, and to get a better feel for the car. Then performance comes much more naturally. It’s a big difference from when you’re chasing performance and driving tensely.”
Taking the Positive from Difficult Situations
In addition to the joy of driving, Antonelli places great importance on staying true to himself and putting setbacks into perspective. Especially over the course of a long Formula 1 season, difficult situations are unavoidable. Then it’s a matter of “seeing the positive even in difficult situations,” he emphasizes.
After all, even mistakes and bad weekends can be learning experiences: “When something goes wrong, there’s always something positive you can take away from it. You can find that, and it can help you grow.”
That’s why Antonelli tries to maintain the very balance that Federer instilled in him: stay focused, learn from setbacks, and never lose the joy of driving.
