Hamilton Defends Antonelli Amidst Rookie Struggles
Seven-time champion backs young Mercedes driver facing intense F1 pressure
Formula 1 icon Lewis Hamilton has publicly defended rookie sensation Kimi Antonelli, asserting the young Italian is performing “fantastic” in his maiden season, despite a recent downturn in results.
Pressure Mounts on Young Talent
Antonelli joined the Mercedes team for 2025, arriving with considerable anticipation after a swift ascent from Formula 2. He replaced the departing Lewis Hamilton, who is moving to Ferrari.
The 18-year-old’s F1 debut started promisingly, with five points finishes in the initial six races and a podium in Canada. However, recent events, including a first-lap collision with Max Verstappen in Austria and non-scoring finishes in Austria and Great Britain, have intensified scrutiny.
Antonelli experienced a particularly challenging weekend in Belgium, failing to progress beyond the first qualifying stages for both the Sprint and Grand Prix. The young driver appeared visibly emotional when speaking to the media following the Grand Prix.
This is not the first instance where pressure has seemed to affect Antonelli. He previously crashed during his F1 practice debut at last year’s Italian Grand Prix amidst significant pre-season hype.
He also candidly admitted to feeling “burnt out” before the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, citing the demands of his commitments leading up to his home race.
Hamilton’s Support Amidst Shared Challenges
Interestingly, Hamilton himself faced qualifying difficulties in Belgium, also exiting in SQ1 and Q1. However, he managed to recover significantly in the Grand Prix, finishing in seventh place.
“I can’t imagine what it’s like at 18, or try to imagine what it’s like at 18 to do what he’s been doing. I think he’s been doing fantastic to be thrown in at the deep end at 18. He didn’t even have his driving licence when he started racing, so I think it’s a lot on someone’s shoulders and I think he’s doing a great job.”
—Lewis Hamilton, Formula 1 Driver
Hamilton further praised the support system around the young driver, adding:
“He’s got a great group of people around him. I think he’s just got to take it in his stride, which I think he is and as I say, he’s got Bono [Pete Bonnington, Hamilton’s former race engineer] beside him, so he couldn’t have anyone better.”
—Lewis Hamilton, Formula 1 Driver
To put the immense pressure into perspective, the youngest drivers to debut in Formula 1 have typically been around 17. By comparison, Antonelli is currently only slightly older than those record-holders, highlighting the extraordinary circumstances of his entry into the sport. (Source: Formula1.com)
