All Kimi Antonelli wanted to do on the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix was end ninth. As an alternative, the brand new world champion selected to clinch the title with a late-braking lunge on Charles Leclerc into Flip 1, and never everybody at Mercedes was snug watching it.
Talking on the Nu Silver Arrows Radio Present, Antonelli revealed that some members of the group questioned why he had taken the chance, with the championship already inside touching distance.
“Could not you have got simply stayed behind?”
Host Anthony Davidson stated the transfer had left the group “holding their breath”, describing it as “vital however not vital on the identical time”.
“A few of them, they had been like, ‘Could not you have got simply stayed behind?'” Antonelli laughed. “However in fact, I wished to complete on the rostrum. I wished to clinch the title with a superb race. I did not need to simply clinch it by doing the traditional job, which was OK, end ninth.”
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Picture by: Bryn Lennon / Method 1 through Getty Pictures
Antonelli believes he had greater than a podium in him earlier than the race was stopped. Operating an offset technique within the first stint, he stated he was arrange for a powerful second half of the race on a lot more energizing tyres.
“I actually imagine that after the pitstop we may have even fought for perhaps a win, as a result of the tempo was very robust and the automotive was feeling nice,” he stated.
The purple flag reset the sphere, leaving him fourth for the restart with everybody on contemporary tyres. Antonelli stated he noticed it as an opportunity, and took third place from Leclerc to complete behind Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
The danger didn’t finish there, both. Mercedes has since revealed that Antonelli was near retiring with an oil leak within the closing laps.
Classes from a tough rookie yr
That willingness to assault, even with the title on the road, is a far cry from the motive force who struggled by way of spells of his rookie season in 2025.
“I am not going to lie, I have been questioning myself time and again final season throughout that stretch,” Antonelli admitted on the identical present.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Picture by: Simon Galloway / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
He stated being put straight right into a Mercedes made it more durable, as a result of he was “far more beneath the highlight”, however credited these tough moments, together with a foul dwelling race at Monza final yr, with rushing up his improvement.
“Trying again, I am very glad that I went by way of all that tough moments, as a result of I feel they formed me. They made me develop rather a lot sooner. They made me mature rather a lot sooner,” the 20-year-old stated.
A yr on, he took the title with 4 races to spare, beating team-mate George Russell, and he didn’t need to do it by taking part in secure.
We would like your opinion!
What would you prefer to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
– The Motorsport.com Staff