I really like what I’m seeing from him so far. Very easy person to root for, too.
Same. I wasn’t really interested in him coming into the season for some reason, but he’s been very impressive and mature. Reminds me of Piastri, just hitting the ground running.
I feel like the quality of juniors these days is incredibly high.
He was finding really good lap times today and looking good on a very technical track, though he was testing the limits pretty clearly and was off in the chicane twice. The Piastri comparison is very apt, but the real test will be in some of the coming tracks where tyre wear will play a bigger part. Today the tires were pretty much bulletproof (thanks Pirelli) so every driver could just push. I remember Piastri’s biggest struggle coming up from F2 was tyre management.
When the F2 champ isn’t even the most hyped talent coming up you know it’s a great crop of youngsters. Though in fairness from F2 last year I definitely felt like Hadjar stood out more than Bortoleto.
Ikr? He’s like the polar opposite of Lawson. Good mood, good driving, impressive results.
I thought I read that Max Verstappen could never be beaten as the youngest race winner because the age requirement for F1 was increased - But now Kimi Antonelli is here. Am I remembering something wrong?
Merc had an exception for Kimi from the FIA. I think in Kimis case it looks to be valid, as it would for Max if he was joining now at the same age as Kimi, but Lance would have also needed the exception if joining now at the same point and he shouldn’t have had one at that age. I do not mind exceptions if they are true talents like Kimi and Max but that has to be enforced.
Ah, thank you
Kimi’s last chance to grab Max’s record of youngest race winner was this weekend in Suzuka, I think?
FIA seem to be more open these days to handing out exemptions to young drivers, though. Red Bull have already asked for an exemption for Lindblad, so Max’s record could theoretically still be taken yet.
Thanks
Kimis tend to be fast
