Kimi follows Kimi
In an interview given to Quotidiano Sportivo, Kimi Raikkonen spoke about following with great interest the rise of his namesake, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who is now called simply ‘Kimi’ by the Formula 1 paddock. And it is certainly a curious endorsement, given that the Finnish champion and former Ferrari driver has practically never spoken after hanging up his helmet following his retirement from racing at the end of 2021, after his experience with Alfa Romeo Sauber.
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Raikkonen: “Antonelli can win the title”
These are the words of Kimi Raikkonen to Leo Turrini: “Of course I follow Antonelli’s achievements with great sympathy. It amuses me that he carries my same name, even though I believe I have understood it is a simple coincidence. He is definitely very good… Obviously in Formula 1 you don’t win four consecutive grands prix if you don’t have a special talent. Antonelli’s numbers are impressive. It is essential to have the right car, but it has always been like that in all eras. He can win the title and he believes in it, you can see it from how he approaches the races, from the spirit he puts into it. Antonelli will not lose concentration, he is showing maturity. He will have to avoid imitating Piastri in 2025, at one point the Australian McLaren driver seemed to have the title in his pocket but he didn’t handle the pressure. The Italian boy will not fall into the same trap.”
Why is Antonelli called Kimi?
As told in past years, the name ‘Kimi’ was suggested to the Antonelli family by Enrico Bertaggia, a close friend of dad Marco. The reason? Simple phonetics. Kimi sounded good with Andrea and Antonelli, giving an international touch to the name.
Once he arrived in Formula 1, the paddock – and primarily his ‘boss’ at Mercedes Toto Wolff – started calling him simply Kimi, a name that after Raikkonen definitely rhymes with motorsport.
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