For a while, Kimi Antonelli couldn’t quite take in the fact that he’d won the World Championship title: it was only when he saw a T-shirt in São Paulo that it all became real to him
Even a few days after the greatest moment of his career so far, Kimi Antonelli is still in a daze. The celebrations, the visit to Ayrton Senna’s family, the trip to Brazil – it all happened so quickly that the new Formula 1 world champion barely had time to even realise what had happened.
It was only on Thursday in São Paulo that it became tangible for him. When his team presented him with a very special T-shirt, he looked at it and thought: “Wow. Is this even real? Not really, not yet. It still feels surreal,” says Antonelli. The shirt made him realise for the first time what he had achieved with his team.
“That’s probably exactly why I still need a bit of time to take it all in.” The past few days had been emotional and eventful; the sheer number of impressions had almost overwhelmed him. “There’s so much going on in my head right now that it’s almost a bit too much for me.”
The 20-year-old had barely had a moment’s rest since that decisive Sunday. The celebrations were quickly followed by the next extraordinary event: Antonelli spent time with Ayrton Senna’s family. That, too, had been an experience he’d needed to let sink in first. “So I’d definitely have liked to sit down for a bit to reflect on the whole thing and realise what had actually happened.”
But there’s hardly any time for that in the Formula 1 calendar. There were just three full days between winning the title and the next race weekend in Brazil. Antonelli is back in his usual rhythm – and is trying to bring the season to a successful close, not only emotionally but also in sporting terms.
A photo for the ages: Hamilton and Verstappen carry Antonelli
There is one moment from the celebrations, however, that he won’t need to reflect on to know he’ll never forget it. The picture of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen carrying him on their shoulders after the race has already found a permanent place in his home.
“I’ve already had the picture framed and will definitely hang it on the wall,” says Antonelli. “I mean, who would have thought it? I didn’t expect to celebrate my title like that.” The fact that it was two drivers, of all people, who have shaped Formula 1 for years, who lifted him up together, made the scene particularly special for him.
He definitely wants to thank Hamilton and Verstappen for that. Because: “When I look back at the podium, it was absolutely genuine. It was sincere, and that’s the beauty of it.” Antonelli felt that the two of them genuinely wanted to do it. “It was something they genuinely wanted to do. So it was a very special moment, and I’ll always be grateful to them for it.”
After all, Antonelli has been following Hamilton’s career in particular since he was a child. He can hardly believe that the Brit is now competing in his 400th Formula 1 race. “I don’t even know which race I’m at. Number 44? 44. That’s mad. So he’s celebrating his 400th and I’m celebrating my 44th.”
Hamilton as an inspiration for his own future
What impresses Antonelli about Hamilton isn’t just his extraordinary record. Even at 41, the record-holding world champion is still racing at the very highest level – and showing the same hunger and determination as in his younger years.
“That’s bloody cool and also very inspiring,” says Antonelli. For him, Hamilton is therefore also an example of what might be possible in his own career. “I’m only 20 years old – hopefully, at 41, I’ll still be racing and battling right up there at the top.”
He sees it as something special that he now gets to compete against a driver whose career he has followed since childhood: “He’s broken so many records and is still doing so. I’m very happy and feel it’s a great privilege to be able to compete against him, and I hope for many more great duels in the future.”
The focus is already back on the future
Despite all the emotion, Antonelli is aware that he cannot dwell on his achievements for too long. The final races mustn’t simply become a farewell tour. Mercedes still has an important goal in sight in the Constructors’ World Championship, and Antonelli wants to play his part in achieving it.
“Now that the championship is in the bag, I’m sure I’ll be able to enjoy driving even more,” he explains. At the same time, he warns himself against letting up: “Just because the title is in the bag, we mustn’t let up now; it’s crucial to stay on top of our game and maintain the same intensity.”
He wants to drive with more composure, but by no means with any less determination. “I’ll make sure I go out on the track with exactly the same determination, intensity and hunger – just with a little more composure. But not too much, mind you!”
His physical condition also plays a part in this. Following his illness in Mexico, Antonelli is now feeling better, even if he isn’t quite back to 100 per cent yet. The celebrations on Sunday evening apparently played their part in his recovery: “I think all the viruses left my body after the celebrations on Sunday evening. They’re gone!”
It will take a while yet to fully process what he has been through. Antonelli plans to take a few days after the end of the season to reflect on the past few weeks in peace. He expects that, by the time of the FIA gala at the end of the year at the latest, he’ll finally realise just what he has achieved.
Until then, the special T-shirt will probably remain as a memento of a morning when, suddenly, everything felt a little more real.