Sky Sport F1 pundits commented on Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s podium finish at the Canadian Grand Prix during the show Race Anatomy.
The comments from Sky experts
Ivan Capelli began by saying: “Kimi drove a very mature race, managing to keep up with Russell and handle the final part well, when his tyres were at the limit.
“Behind him were Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri pressuring him, in front he had [Verstappen, ed.] a four-time world champion, and he didn’t get intimidated On the starting grid he had the look of someone who felt this race, he felt it [that he could make the podium, ed.],” concluded the former Formula 1 driver.
Leo Turrini spoke immediately after, recalling the grade he gave the young talent in his post-race ratings: “I gave him a 10.
“It had been so many years since an Italian driver stood on the podium, and what he did at the start, overtaking Piastri, I found fantastic,” added the journalist.
Umberto Zapelloni then said: “He ran a very intelligent race, which you wouldn’t expect from someone his age: “As Toto Wolff [Mercedes team principal, ed.] said, little Kimi has become big Kimi,” he concluded.
Luigi Mazzola, however, analysed the result from another angle: “[the podium, ed.] is a confirmation of everything he’s done in the past, of what he showed in the lower formulas too.
“I’d actually like to see a bit less maturity and a bit more push, [an attitude, ed.] more on the attack. In Canada he was excellent, outstanding, always within a few tenths of the top two, but I’d rather see him make a mistake while attacking than be mature. He’s too young to be mature,” said the former Ferrari engineer.
Finally, Matteo Bobbi commented on the importance of Antonelli’s third place: “This result was necessary, because the last three races had been complicated; for Mercedes in general and for him too.
“The result in Canada lifts a lot of pressure off his shoulders, and it could help him head in the direction of realizing how strong he is, and consequently taking more risks.
“In Formula 1, things change fast. Just think about the rumours about Max Verstappen, whether he could move to Mercedes, etc. In the meantime [Antonelli, ed.] gets a result and secures his spot.
“A podium and a pole position in the Sprint qualifying in Miami, in the first ten races, isn’t such a bad haul,” concluded the two-time GT world champion.
And what do you think? Do you believe Kimi Antonelli’s podium in Canada could give him the confidence to do even better in the future?
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