Italian former F1 driver hails Mercedes move as key to Kimi Antonelli’s rise. Jarno Trulli praised Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s F1 debut with Mercedes, calling it a stroke of luck for the young Italian.

The long wait is over
From Jarno Trulli’s second place in the 2009 Japanese GP to Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s third place in Canada last Sunday, 16 years have passed since Italy last celebrated a podium finish in Formula 1. The young driver from Bologna, whose talent is nothing short of promising, has ended that drought. Antonelli entered the top tier of motorsport through the front door, joining the official Mercedes team without going through a transitional period at a smaller team—as was the case with George Russell, who had to wait three years at Williams before being promoted to the works team.

The departure of Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari certainly sped up what may have been Toto Wolff’s and Antonelli’s longer-term plans, but the rookie’s debut season has already featured several impressive high points—such as his pace at the end of the Japanese Grand Prix and the Sprint pole position he secured in Miami on a track he had never raced before.

La Stampa spoke with Jarno Trulli to comment on this symbolic ‘passing of the torch’ between the Abruzzo-born driver and the one from Bologna: “Kimi gave us great satisfaction—a driver who didn’t reach the top just because of financial backing, but thanks to his talent and the development made possible by Mercedes. Is a victory close? I hope so. He doesn’t make big mistakes, which is essential. He just needs to learn the circuits, understand the potential of a car he already manages very well, and grow without pressure, as Toto Wolff is allowing him to do. Debuting in a top team wasn’t easy—he managed it.” – he pointed out.

Kimi Antonelli was also considered by Ferrari before being taken in by Mercedes, after Maranello turned him down because he was deemed too young. Trulli believes that joining Mercedes was a stroke of luck for Kimi Antonelli: “Any regrets from Ferrari? For Ferrari fans, yes—for him, I’d say finding Mercedes was a stroke of luck. In life, as in a driver’s career, luck is vital, because money alone isn’t enough to win.” – the former Formula 1 driver concluded.