From one Italian to another
Italy this year is rediscovering the pleasure of having its own driver consistently at the top of the Formula 1 World Championship and capable of showing up at every race with real chances of victory. Andrea Kimi Antonelli, not yet twenty years old, has experienced a dream first part of the season, winning three victories – all consecutive – in the first four GPs and climbing to +20 in the standings compared to the first pursuer, his teammate George Russell.
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FormulaPassion.it contacted a former F1 driver of the caliber of Vitantonio Liuzzi, who today remains in the Circus with the delicate role of FIA steward, to also talk about this Antonelli’s breakthrough, which was not expected in these proportions just in his second season in the category. Exclusively for our site, the former representative of Toro Rosso, Force India, and HRT expressed words of great appreciation for the young Mercedes talent: “Antonelli had a very nice first Formula 1 season, but also full of several ups and downs. However, no one ever doubted his speed, which he continues to demonstrate in every race. Then in Miami he adapts particularly well, while in Canada I expect a different balance compared to his teammate. Russell had two or three races where he was not perfect“.
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In Montreal last year, the English #63 won, while Antonelli was third and climbed the podium for the first time in his F1 career. This weekend Russell will have to try at all costs to beat the Italian to prevent him from really pulling away in the standings. Liuzzi is convinced, however, that it is still too early to think concretely about the world championship head-to-head: “In my opinion, there are definitely prospects for a title fight [for Antonelli]. I personally think the championship is still too long to talk about winning the title, but [Kimi] will certainly be one of the contenders until the end. Russell, however, is a very experienced driver and also very fast, and this honors Antonelli who is showing he can often beat him, as I say, and so this is a great thing and we can only be all happy and proud to have an Italian who will fight for the title“.
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However, Liuzzi, as a keen ‘inside’ observer of F1, is convinced that the championship battle might not be limited to just the two silver arrows’ champions: “The improvements we saw in Miami from McLaren make me a bit worried because they were improvements somewhat beyond expectations and so they could be a dangerous rival for the world title.”
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