Mercedes youngster Kimi Antonelli is leading the Formula 1 drivers’ championship: Now Bradley Lord reveals how the team plays a trick on him to keep him grounded
Mercedes youngster Kimi Antonelli is currently on cloud nine after this year’s Formula 1 season opener: Following his two Grand Prix victories in China and Japan, the 19-year-old is currently the youngest world championship leader the premier class has ever seen in its history.
Nonetheless, Antonelli is not letting this tempt him into prematurely flying high. “I always try to keep my feet on the ground, especially after China,” said the 19-year-old on the Mercedes Nu Silver Arrows Radio Show, particularly with regard to his debut victory in Shanghai.
“Then I concentrate on the next race, because it’s easy to get carried away by these incredible moments. But at the end of the day, the season is still very long and the goal remains the same. We just want to experience more of this feeling.”
Mercedes mechanics play Antonelli prank
“To give you an idea of how to keep a driver grounded: We had a day of filming at Silverstone today,” added Bradley Lord, who was recently promoted to deputy to Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff.
“Kimi must have thought it was funny to drive out of the garage with spinning wheels and leave huge black marks that the guys have to clean up every time he leaves the garage. So he drifts into the pit lane thinking, ‘I’m the greatest’, and the guys have to clean it all up.”
“So they take all the dirty rags and stuff them into the sleeves of his jacket,” says Lord with a grin, “just to make sure they can give him a special thank you when he comes back out and puts the jacket on.”
Antonelli: “We’re having a great time together”
A joke that Antonelli takes with a sense of humor. “I’ve been at Mercedes since 2018. It’s been an incredible journey since I was twelve. I grew up with them,“ says the 19-year-old Italian, recalling his long history with the team.
”Last year, I didn’t find the transition difficult because I was already working with the team,” says the Mercedes youngster, looking back on his Formula 1 debut season. “I knew a lot of the members. So it was a very smooth transition.”
“It was fantastic. Mercedes has given me so many great opportunities since my karting days. And now we are having a great time together. Hopefully it continues like this, but I’m very happy where I am. And I have so much support.”