Motorsport photograph
’s smartphone pings to sign the arrival of his Thursday schedule. As with all issues , its promptness is matched by its element: a bit over 24 hours stay till his first race-weekend observe session as a fully-fledged Method 1 driver, however he has already been in Melbourne for a number of days to align his physique clock with the native timings.
Commercial
“Are we actually going to handle to do all this right this moment?” Kimi asks after scrutinising the color-coded spreadsheet.
At 9 within the morning, a media session is scheduled alongside team-mate , reserve driver and crew boss Toto Wolff at a seaside venue in St. Kilda, overlooking Port Phillip bay with the ocean past. As specified within the schedule, Antonelli arrives carrying the crew gear Mercedes has chosen for race weekends in 2025.
“How do I look?” Kimi asks with a contact of delight. Then he steps onto the stage and, from that second, the true grind begins.
It’s unlucky, if inevitable given Antonelli’s standing as a rookie together with his F1 journey very a lot forward of him, that most of the questions pertain to the previous occupant of his seat – . It’s a properly to which his interlocutors return many times.
Commercial
“I don’t need to sound smug,” Kimi says, “however I’d like to write down my very own story. I don’t know what the long run holds, however I simply need to observe my very own path.”
Roberto Chinchero, Motorsport.com Italia with Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Roberto Chinchero, Motorsport.com Italia with Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesMercedes GP Petronas Method One Group
Mercedes GP Petronas Method One Group
As soon as the media session ends, it is straight to the observe for a gathering with the engineers to debate the weekend forward. The remainder of the day is equally dictated by enterprise, each sporting and advertising: the obligatory FIA weigh-in, the official photograph of all drivers on the grid (will all of them nonetheless be there at season’s finish?), his first official FIA press convention, a social media session for the crew, an autograph session with followers, a gathering with Australian soccer gamers, one other briefing with engineers below his race engineer Peter ‘Bono’ Bonnington, and an occasion with Mercedes Australia representatives.
Commercial
Although he doesn’t present it, Kimi has been eagerly awaiting his household’s arrival in Melbourne on Thursday – his father Marco, mom Veronica and youthful sister Maggie. They’re staying in a special lodge and, every morning, he picks them up himself – having handed his driving take a look at simply six weeks in the past.
“Now that I’ve my driving license, it’s solely honest,” he says. “They drove me round for years.”
Friday begins early for Kimi: within the health club at 8am together with his efficiency coach, Sergi Avila. This isn’t a feel-the-burn exercise. Like the opposite coaches on the grid, Avila is greater than only a private coach – he acts as driver-whisperer and helps handle stress forward of the massive weekend.
“We at all times begin with mobility workout routines,” Avila explains, “then fast activation and visible workout routines. It additionally helps us assess if sleep high quality was satisfactory.”
Commercial
In frequent with many different F1 drivers, Antonelli wears a ‘good ring’ which tracks bodily exercise and may provide Avila with numerous well being and efficiency metrics, in addition to monitoring sleep cycles.
“Sleep-tracking makes it inconceivable for drivers to remain up late,” Avila laughs. “We’d know instantly.”
Each side of Antonelli’s lengthy journey from Italy to Melbourne was rigorously deliberate, together with a one-day stopover in Kuala Lumpur. The physique’s pure circadian rhythm – the wake-sleep cycle – strikes however regularly, and is principally guided by daylight.
“It [the stopover] helps Kimi regulate to the time zone extra progressively,” Avila says. “We additionally selected in a single day flights to land within the morning.”
Commercial
Vitamin is one other essential think about driver well being and efficiency, however Avila sees no points there: “Kimi is fortunate to come back from a household that prioritises wholesome consuming.”
Upon arriving on the observe, Antonelli discovers a singular characteristic of Melbourne. Drivers are among the many few allowed to drive on the inner roads of Albert Park – and, as soon as they attain the reserved parking space, they need to stroll down ‘Melbourne Stroll’, a pathway that has turn into a first-rate attraction for followers. Custom dictates that each F1 superstar stops for autographs, images and greetings.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesGlenn Dunbar / Motorsport Photographs
Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Photographs
Commercial
“Wow, so many individuals!” Kimi exclaims as he takes within the spectacle of this heaving mass of followers, most of them thrusting out footage and objects of merchandise for him to signal. This being Australia, a rustic with a protracted F1 custom, everybody is aware of who he’s regardless of his rookie standing: “Kimi!” they shriek, and the amount solely will increase as he will get nearer.
One fan arms him an previous karting photograph. “The place did you get this?” he asks, stunned. Others greet him in Italian (“We’re not simply right here for !”) or want him a podium end, to which he cautiously responds, “Perhaps! It’ll take time…”
As Kimi walks the trail, Christian Horner overtakes him, seemingly drawing much less consideration than the younger Italian – a truth which is able to most likely trigger him to chafe, given how rigorously he grooms his profile through the likes of Drive to Survive. It’s a great 20 minutes earlier than Antonelli lastly reaches the paddock gates and swipes by means of together with his move.
Kimi’s agenda stays packed: greetings, a fast crew assembly, and answering exact technical questions, surrounded by engineers, all with headsets and screens. It’s like a NASA management room however, having been within the Mercedes young-driver set-up for thus lengthy, Antonelli is totally accustomed to the surroundings.
Commercial
Toto Wolff arrives simply earlier than FP1. “Every little thing okay, Kimi?” A distinct feeling is creeping into the air within the storage, because the minutes tick by in the direction of the second when vehicles enterprise out onto observe. Antonelli simply nods – he’s already in ‘race mode’.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesSam Bagnall / Motorsport Photographs
Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Photographs
The day flies by. After FP2, Antonelli sums up his session: “Our long-run tempo seems stable. I nonetheless must fine-tune my warm-up lap with the tender tyres.” His mom affectionately ruffles his hair.
“It’s good, however I want to enhance lots,” he admits. His father gives two observations, and Kimi nods earlier than heading into one other engineering debrief.
Commercial
“I raced right here final yr in F2,” he says, “however in an F1 automobile it appears like a totally totally different circuit. Every little thing adjustments – even the tyres are completely totally different from testing.”
Bonnington reassures him: “Good begin.” Nevertheless it’s clear that Antonelli desires extra.
Saturday morning begins with one other spherical of fan interactions on the best way in, however the true spotlight for the native crowd comes at 11am: a ‘fan zone’ occasion. A automobile is summoned to whisk Antonelli and Russell to the venue, the place all 20 drivers are as a result of take turns showing on stage.
Roberto Chinchero, Motorsport.com Italia with Andrea Kimi Antonelli, George Russell, Mercedes
Roberto Chinchero, Motorsport.com Italia with Andrea Kimi Antonelli, George Russell, MercedesMercedes GP Petronas Method One Group
Mercedes GP Petronas Method One Group
Commercial
As they strategy, Kimi does one thing uncommon for an F1 driver. Their automobile’s home windows are tinted, concealing the occupants from prying eyes – however Antonelli rolls his all the way down to greet the gang. “So many individuals! It’s nice to see so many passionate followers, and so they’re largely younger.”
Kimi has introduced Maggie alongside and so they stroll backstage hand in hand, the second captured by the throng of photographers and duly decanted onto social media as a first-rate instance of ‘healthful feels’. On stage, he and Russell obtain a standing ovation.
“Looks like a live performance!” exclaims Maggie.
Ten minutes of questions, a fast sport with the viewers, some cap-throwing – then again to the paddock for qualifying. As with all different elements of the day, the drivers are on the clock in order that they’re ushered again once more by automobile.
Commercial
The subsequent observe session serves up probably the most disappointing second of his weekend. After damaging the automobile’s ground on the Flip 6 kerb, Antonelli fails to advance previous Q1 and the duty forward turns into but harder.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesSimon Galloway / Motorsport Photographs
Simon Galloway / Motorsport Photographs
As his mechanics swarm below the W16 to evaluate the injury to its underfloor, the remainder of the crew rally spherical. “No worries, it occurs – let’s concentrate on tomorrow,” they reassure him.
Antonelli forces a smile, however his frustration is clear. His P5 tempo in FP3 had recommended a significantly better consequence than his closing P16 grid spot.
Commercial
“But when it actually rains tomorrow…” his father feedback prophetically, having scrutinized the forecast.
On Sunday, the ‘ifs’ depart – as predicted, the rain arrives, and it’s heavy sufficient for the Method 2 race to be cancelled. There’s merely no room within the observe schedule to delay, and even to run it after the grand prix, since all the pieces must be packed up for the onward journey to China subsequent weekend.
“Think about the frustration,” Kimi says. “Touring all the best way to Australia and never racing! For many who certified up entrance, that should be crushing.”
The subsequent query is whether or not the grand prix shall be equally affected. As race time nears, rigidity builds – for Kimi and his mother and father, and the remainder of the grid. Solely Maggie appears relaxed, occupied along with her coloring pens within the Mercedes hospitality lounge.
Commercial
Simply when it appears the rain has abated sufficient to get the grand prix below manner on time, there’s a 15-minute delay as crunches into the boundaries on the formation lap. Because the grid lastly will get going once more to take the beginning, Kimi’s mom decides that watching the TV footage is simply too aggravating: she removes herself to a non-public room with only a timing display.
It is a good name – she avoids the panic second when Kimi spins after touching the grass at Flip 3. However from there, he levels a outstanding restoration. Lap after lap, he climbs the order.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesSam Bagnall / Motorsport Photographs
Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Photographs
Commercial
Two laps from the end, Toto Wolff calls his mother and father into the storage. Moments later, the chequered flag confirms Antonelli’s P4 end. Hugs, pats on the again and smiles abound as they rush to parc ferme to satisfy him.
The complete crew gathers below the rostrum to have a good time Russell’s P3 end earlier than Antonelli heads to the ‘pen’ for the obligatory spherical of post-race interviews. “I’ve to say, the questions had been all fairly nice,” he remarks.
Again within the Mercedes hospitality lounge, Wolff is probably the most elated – the person who backed Antonelli’s expertise since his karting days feels vindicated. The quick stroll from the interview space to the crew’s headquarters takes for much longer than it will on some other day, for now everybody stops Kimi for congratulations, handshakes, and high-fives. He smiles, thanks all of them, and appears overwhelmed by the respect he’s earned.
His first phrases upon sitting down say all of it: “Now I can say I’ve erased Monza.”
Commercial
His first FP1 outing final yr within the Italian Grand Prix weekend had prompted reward and questions in equal measure as he drove with pace and attacking elan… earlier than crashing.
“Oh, and I hope you noticed my move on Albon – not unhealthy, huh?” He grins, then glances on the race outcomes. “Nicely… there are some fairly massive names behind me, proper?”
The Antonelli household’s desk is on the hospitality entrance, and well-wishers hold stopping by. “Tonight? I’ll be sleeping – on the airplane. We go away instantly for Shanghai.”
Whereas his household enjoys a quick trip in Australia, Kimi dozes off quickly after takeoff. Simply earlier than switching off, although, he reads one final message from Wolff: “IN FUTURE, STAY AWAY FROM WHITE LINES AND GRASS.”
Kimi chuckles. “Guess he was extra scared than I used to be…”
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesMercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
