Former Components 1 driver David Coulthard has shot down comparisons between Ayrton Senna and Kimi Antonelli, claiming that the younger Italian driver is extra like MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi.
Antonelli has firmly positioned himself within the drivers’ title struggle after the primary three rounds of the season. He took the lead within the championship, changing into the youngest driver to take action, after back-to-back wins on the Chinese language and Japanese Grands Prix.
Along with his spectacular begin to the season, Antonelli has turn into one of the vital talked about drivers within the paddock, with some evaluating him to a younger Senna.
Throughout an episode of the Up To Velocity podcast, Coulthard argued in opposition to these claims.
“It appears to me he is extra like a Valentino Rossi. For many who do not watch MotoGP, Valentino Rossi was a generational rider, however nearly like a boy man up till at the moment. He races GTs now. I imagine he does Le Mans, issues like that.
“So, he is transitioned from two wheels onto 4, however he nonetheless seems like Peter Pan, and I would not be stunned if Kimi Antonelli is the form of Peter Pan of his technology.”
Coulthard’s co-host and former F1 TV presenter Will Buxton disagreed with the previous Purple Bull driver, including: “However Rossi was punk, Rossi was punk rock. He got here in, shaved head, pierced ears, like Rossi was a power and had an enormous persona that you simply could not escape.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Picture by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Photos through Getty Photos
“Even earlier than he made it to the best ranks of bike racing, as he was coming via the junior classes, he was this effervescent, on fireplace persona. And Kimi is a lot extra shy than Valentino.
“I can not think about Kimi talking out in opposition to the championship. Whereas with Valentino, there was at all times the potential for him to only be wild and off the cuff, and that is why folks beloved him. That is why they fell in love with him, as a result of he was so distinctive and personable. I am not saying Kimi is not personable, he is completely beautiful. I feel a completely totally different persona.”
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