Lewis Hamilton Backs Kimi Antonelli: 'To Be Thrown In At The Deep End At 18'
Lewis Hamilton came out in support of Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, praising the 18-year-old's performance despite recent criticism.
Lewis Hamilton has strongly supported Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, asserting that the 18-year-old is 'doing fantastic" despite growing criticism regarding his recent performances in Formula 1.
'I can't imagine what it's like at 18, or try to imagine what it's like at 18 to do what he's been doing," Hamilton was quoted as saying to Sky Sports.
'I think he's been doing fantastic to be thrown in at the deep end at 18. He didn't even have his driving licence when he started racing, so I think it's a lot on someone's shoulders and I think he's doing a great job."
Who Is Kimi Antonelli?
Antonelli, who replaced the seven-time World Champion at Mercedes this season, began his F1 career with a series of strong results, including five points finishes in the first six races and a podium in Canada. However, a dip in form has followed.
The Italian crashed out with Max Verstappen in Austria, failed to score at Silverstone, and had a disappointing weekend in Belgium—failing to get out of SQ1 and Q1 before finishing outside the points. He was visibly emotional during post-race interviews.
The pressure isn't entirely new. Antonelli also struggled under the spotlight in 2024, when he crashed during his F1 practice debut at Monza amid intense hype. He later admitted to being mentally and physically exhausted ahead of his home race at Imola this year, drained by the obligations that came with racing on Italian soil.
But Hamilton believes Antonelli is handling the pressure as best as anyone could at such a young age.
'He's got a great group of people around him. I think he's just got to take it in his stride, which I think he is," said Hamilton.
'And as I say, he's got Bono [Pete Bonnington, Hamilton's former engineer] beside him, so he couldn't have anyone better."
(With inputs from IANS)
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