Mercedes Method 1 driver Kimi Antonelli has “earned the appropriate” to be main the drivers’ championship, in accordance with former driver David Coulthard.
The 19-year-old driver took the lead of the championship after back-to-back wins on the Chinese language and Japanese Grands Prix, turning into the youngest driver within the historical past of the sequence to steer the standings. His win in Miami prolonged his lead over his team-mate George Russell to twenty factors.
As Russell struggled across the Miami Worldwide Autodrome, a observe he admits is just not one which performs to his strengths, Antonelli efficiently transformed pole place into one other race win regardless of a tough begin.
“He is come of age,” Coulthard defined on the Up To Pace podcast. “He could solely be in his second season of Method 1, however in coping with not solely the strain of getting Lando there able to pounce, however he additionally had some technical difficulties with the paddle shift that meant he was having inconsistent downshifts.
“And he was calmed down by his engineer Bono when he had an elevated voice making an attempt to determine what the issue was. And I am certain they’re going to have a dialog about that afterwards as properly as a result of in the long run, the issue is the issue. You simply must get the data to the staff and they’re going to try to discover a answer for you.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Picture by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Photos by way of Getty Photos
“So I believe he is completely come of age. He has completely earned the appropriate to be main this world championship. And the expectation is now, and this shall be uncomfortable for George, however the expectation is that he’s main the staff and clearly in outcomes.
“Now George has the expertise, he has the standard, he has all the expertise to have the ability to take possession of that again once more. They each can’t win. Somebody’s bought to be first. Somebody’s bought to be second.
“And whereas they’re making an attempt to determine that out, look the place McLaren had been. Have a look at the enhancements from Ferrari and Purple Bull. It is tough to win in what’s perceived as the perfect automotive. There’s been many examples the place individuals have not managed it.”
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