Andrea Kimi Antonelli finished the Saudi Arabian GP in sixth place after a far-from-easy race. Already at the start of the day, the Italian driver wasn’t feeling well, complaining of nausea and a severe headache.
This Grand Prix is tough both mentally and physically. After completing the 50 laps in Jeddah, the 18-year-old felt unwell and struggled to get out of the car. It seems he almost fainted upon reaching the pit lane.
All things considered, though, he had a good race, finishing once again in the points. His race was a quiet one. The only real battle was with Hamilton, who ended the GP in seventh place. The young Italian is learning to adapt quickly to the car and the circuits. Taking into account all the difficulties he faced today, he delivered an excellent performance.
Kimi Antonelli’s words
Kimi Antonelli managed his race and tyres very well, especially when Hamilton was putting pressure on him. Even though Mercedes’ pace was a bit off in Saudi Arabia, he managed to keep the 7-time world champion behind.
The 18-year-old said: “Yes, let’s say when they told me he was coming, and coming fast, instead of pushing more I kept managing things.”
“I didn’t try to push more because I felt it wasn’t the right time yet,” added the Mercedes driver. “Then, in the last 10 laps, when I felt good with the car and the balance—let’s say I felt the balance was improving—I started to push more. And then the pace came out.”
At one point during the race, Antonelli came dangerously close to the walls of the Jeddah street circuit.
“Yes, it was scary. It was very scary, but all in all, I think it was a decent race,” said the young driver. “The first stint was definitely tough, but then the second stint was much, much better. So I’m happy with the race pace, especially at the end.”
“And now there will be a week of rest so we can regroup all the information we’ve gathered and come back stronger,” concluded Kimi Antonelli.
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