Andrea Kimi Antonelli has Formula 1 firmly under control this season – the 19-year-old has also dominated his much more experienced teammate at Mercedes, George Russell. In an exclusive interview with RTL and Sky, the young Italian is confident that he can win the World Cup title this year. And he explains how the team’s internal duel could work in the best possible way.
Quite a few observers in Formula 1 expect that things could go wrong at Mercedes as the season progresses. High-flyer and World Cup leader Kimi Antonelli confirms in an exclusive interview RTL and Sky before the Monaco Grand Prix (Qualifying on Saturday from 3:15 p.m. and race on Sunday from 1:30 p.m. live on RTL, NITRO and Sky Sport) but wanting to avoid any friction with teammate George Russell.
“We’re both in an excellent position, we both have a great car and we both want to win. Of course we want to treat each other fairly during the races, we don’t want to cause chaos in the team and of course we don’t want to upset Toto (Wolff, Mercedes team boss, editor’s note),” said the youngster about the internal Mercedes duel.
Antonelli immediately added: “When we race, of course we drive to win. We want to be the best and of course, we also race for ourselves – but also for the team.”
Antonelli on his World Cup chances: “I know I can win”
The German car manufacturer’s team confidently leads Ferrari’s constructors’ championship after five races, with the two drivers in first and second place.
The balance of power has so far been surprisingly clearly distributed: While the experienced Russell was able to win the opener in Melbourne, his teammate Antonelli has dominated since then and has recently won four times in a row – thereby immediately breaking a new record as the youngest F1 driver of all time to do so.
Antonelli, who made his F1 debut as a rookie last season, scored a convincing 150 points and finished seventh, is now well aware of his great chance of winning the world title in the second year of his career. “I know I can win,” he said confidently, “but I don’t really want to worry about it and lose my head.”
New Mercedes star “a bit overwhelmed” by emotions
He doesn’t want to “drive races and have the championship on my mind at the same time. The season is still so long. I’ll continue to drive as if I have nothing to lose. Because I can’t lose anything that I haven’t achieved yet,” is his approach.
At the same time, Antonelli revealed in an exclusive interview RTL and Skythat the “emotions” after his debut victory in Shanghai had “overwhelmed him a bit”: “But the team helped me to collect myself again. Then we focused on the next race and of course I also have a great family who ensure that I stay grounded and never lose sight of the big goal.”
Super sports weekend: Formula 1 right in the middle
Formula 1 continues next weekend with the classic in Monaco. As part of the merger with Sky Deutschland, RTL Deutschland is opening a new chapter and offering fans a super sports weekend on June 6th and 7th. It starts on Saturday from 3:15 p.m. with the qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix, which will be broadcast in parallel on RTL, NITRO and Sky Sport. Afterwards, “Exclusiv Special – Stars in Monaco” takes a look behind the scenes of Formula 1’s most glamorous racing weekend.
In the evening, RTL will show the German national team’s international match against the USA with an extended run from 7:05 p.m.
Sunday will be all about Formula 1: RTL, NITRO and Sky Sport will broadcast the Monaco Grand Prix live from 1:30 p.m.