Miami (AFP) – Kimi Antonelli proved that age is no barrier and that he is on track to becoming a Formula One great with his stunning third straight career win. At just 19, he became the first Italian to win three races in succession since Alberto Ascari in 1952 and will head to Montreal with a 20-point lead as the youngest leader of the drivers’ championship in F1 history.
AFP looks at three things we learned from Sunday’s race:
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– **Real deal Antonelli**
Few paddock regulars were ready for this, and many were dismissive of claims, emanating from Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff, that Antonelli was a generational talent. But his hard-earned win, under pressure from McLaren’s world champion Lando Norris, ended those doubts. By becoming the first driver to turn his first three consecutive poles into victories, after another almost-trademark poor start, Antonelli has stirred the passions of his peers and the expectations of Italy’s motor racing fans. His team-mate George Russell, nine years his senior and in his eighth F1 season, was a hot pre-season title favourite and won the opening race, but has since been unable to establish his authority. For Wolff, torn between joyous celebration and cold management-speak, it is a welcome dilemma as Mercedes sit atop the constructors’ title race and plan a major upgrade package in Canada.
“It’s astounding, these few races,” said Wolff. “In a way, it’s what we predicted as a team – to have ups and downs last season, with moments of brilliance, but moments too when you want to tear your hair out. But this year, it’s coming together and I don’t think anyone expected this. He has monetised on it every single weekend and it’s special. It’s his best race so far and reminds me of his karting days.
“It is easier to calm someone down that is wild because you won’t be able to accelerate a donkey.” Wolff’s decision to fast-track Antonelli into Mercedes in 2024, before he had passed his normal road car driving test, raised eyebrows. On Sunday night, he placed him alongside tennis star Jannik Sinner in Italy’s sporting galaxy.
“The easiest bit is making sure that he keeps both feet on the ground within the team – his parents have done a great job,” said Wolff. “The bigger problem is the Italian public. Now that they are not qualified for the football World Cup, it is all about Sinner and Antonelli. It is the two superstars — and that is something that we need to contain.”
– **Mercedes still top**
Antonelli’s win kept Mercedes on top and confirmed that, despite major upgrades at McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull, and a host of tweaks to the regulations, they remain the pace-setters. The race supplied plenty of incident and much of the new ‘yo-yo’ overtaking as batteries were recharging or boosting speed.
“It’s still pretty crazy, to be honest,” said McLaren’s Oscar Piastri who finished third. “The closing speeds are huge and trying to anticipate that as a defending driver is incredibly tough. So, not much has really changed.” Wolff hit back at any critics still claiming the spectacle was artificial. “Anyone who complains after that race should hide,” he said. “Honestly, it was a great advert for F1.”
– **FIA open to more change**
While Mercedes purred, others were encouraged to hear that the current hybrid era may be short-lived as the FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem forecast a return for V8 engines and a paddock return for former Red Bull boss Christian Horner. He also said the FIA were looking into multi-team ownership in F1 in the future.
© 2024 AFP
