Andrea Kimi Antonelli kept the trophy beside his bed on the first night of his life as a Monaco Grand Prix winner. It was there when he woke up the following morning, a reminder that what had happened on the streets of Monte Carlo was real and not just an extraordinary dream.
The young Italian shared a photo on social media showing the iconic Monaco trophy resting next to him. It was a symbolic image, one that captured the significance of a victory that has already secured his place in Formula 1 history as one of the winners of the sport’s most prestigious event.
For Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the celebrations began on Sunday afternoon once the usual post-race media duties had been completed. The 19-year-old from Bologna was finally able to enjoy the moment with his Mercedes team, joining the traditional celebrations in Monaco’s harbour as the entire squad applauded their latest star.
There was little time to relax, however. Even on the day of his greatest Formula 1 triumph, a packed schedule awaited him.
A royal evening in Monaco
Later that evening, Andrea Kimi Antonelli attended the traditional gala hosted by Prince Albert of Monaco, where the winner of the Monaco Grand Prix is invited as the guest of honour at one of the Principality’s most exclusive events.
Joining him throughout the evening was his father, Marco Antonelli, who admitted that the formal occasion was something very different from the racing environment they are used to.
“The idea of having to wear a tuxedo scared me quite a bit,” Antonelli Senior joked. “But I was happy to accompany my son to an event like this.”
It was a fitting celebration for the youngest driver ever to win the Monaco Grand Prix. Among those present was Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who has played a crucial role in Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s career.
Wolff first brought the Italian into Mercedes’ junior development programme when he was just 12 years old. On Sunday, the Austrian was rewarded for that faith when he joined Andrea Kimi Antonelli on the podium to collect the Constructors’ Trophy, something he had not done for a decade.
Back to work almost immediately
Once the official celebrations in Monte Carlo came to an end, Andrea Kimi Antonelli returned home with his father to spend some time with his mother Veronica and younger sister Maggie.
Yet the celebrations were brief. The Formula 1 calendar waits for no one, and with another Grand Prix scheduled for the following weekend in Barcelona, the Mercedes driver quickly switched back into race mode. The Spanish Grand Prix presents a completely different challenge compared to Monaco. The characteristics of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya demand a very different car setup and driving approach, making preparation especially important.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s race-week commitments will begin on Thursday with media activities before he returns to the cockpit of his Mercedes on Friday for the opening practice sessions.
Until then, the focus will be entirely on preparation.
Simulator work and preparation for Barcelona
The next few days will be filled with physical training sessions overseen by performance coach Sergi Avila, meetings with his mental coach and extensive simulator work designed to prepare for the demands of the Spanish circuit.
The mental aspect of preparation has become an important part of Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s routine. For more than a year, he has worked with a mental coach before and after race weekends to help manage the pressure that comes with competing at the highest level.
Equally important is the simulator programme, where he studies every detail of the upcoming circuit in an effort to arrive at the track fully prepared: “I like preparing well with simulator work before getting on track,” the Italian explained.
As a member of a new generation of drivers who grew up using advanced simulator technology, Andrea Kimi Antonelli sees it as an essential part of modern Formula 1 preparation.
His simulator commitments are divided between Mercedes’ headquarters in Brackley and his home in San Marino, where the team has provided him with a state-of-the-art simulator: “I practise starts, which are always one of my weaker points, and in general I prepare for the race by studying the circuit as thoroughly as possible,” he said.
That, ultimately, is what Andrea Kimi Antonelli enjoys most. More than gala dinners, trophies or royal celebrations, he prefers the process of preparing for the next challenge. The Monaco Grand Prix victory was historic, but his attention is already focused on getting back behind the wheel and racing again.
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