“I knew Kimi from his karting days, and people were already saying wonderful things about him, so I was keeping an eye on his progress,” remarked Max Verstappen, Red Bull’s four-time world champion, who secured a second-place finish.
“What’s impressive is his natural speed. I appreciate his composed, calm demeanor. Those are excellent traits to possess. I never doubted that he’d reach the podium this year.”
“I’m really happy for him. It boosts confidence and provides a significant lift. Things will only improve from here,” the Dutch driver added.
Antonelli took over the Mercedes seat from seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. He has displayed moments of brilliance, earning a pole in the Miami GP sprint and finishing fourth in his debut at the Australian GP. However, engine issues led to two DNFs in his three races before Canada, and Mercedes has stated he requires time to learn, which may lead to occasional mistakes.
“To be honest, I was just hoping for the race to end. I kept glancing at the screen, counting down the laps because it was quite stressful,” he commented. Antonelli acknowledged that the final laps were challenging as Oscar Piastri closed the gap, but a late safety car, caused by the Australian’s collision with Lando Norris, alleviated some pressure for the Italian teenager.
“I had huge goosebumps. That’s a moment I will cherish for a very long time. Results like this and that feeling are irreplaceable,” said the fan-voted ‘Driver of the Day’.
“It’s an incredible sensation, and it makes you want more.”
“Now, my next goal is to win and bring Italy back to the forefront. This result was essential, not just for me, but for all the Italian tifosi (fans) out there.”
“Imola (his first home race) was a phenomenal weekend for me regarding support. It didn’t go as well as I’d hoped, but witnessing such overwhelming encouragement early on is fantastic. So, this result is also for them.”
Formula 1 will return with the Austrian GP later this month. Antonelli currently sits seventh in the drivers’ standings, having accumulated 63 points across 10 races so far, trailing sixth-placed Hamilton by 16 points.
