Hamilton Backs Antonelli After Elimination in Belgium: F1

Hamilton Supports Antonelli in a Difficult Moment

Andrea Kimi Antonelli revealed a motivating conversation with Lewis Hamilton at the Belgian Grand Prix, an encounter that offered a morale boost to the young Formula 1 driver. Antonelli, 18, expressed his disappointment after being eliminated in Q1. The situation comes in his debut season in the premier category, marked by Hamilton’s move to Ferrari. Hamilton, who was seen in the Mercedes paddock before the race, approached Antonelli to offer words of encouragement.

“He came to greet the team and we definitely had a couple of words,” Antonelli said about Hamilton’s visit. “He told me to keep my head up, that it’s normal to have bad weekends and to keep believing. It was really nice for me.”

Andrea Kimi Antonelli

Antonelli has acknowledged that his rookie season has experienced a “step back” since his first podium at the Canadian Grand Prix in June.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli revealed Lewis Hamilton’s motivational talk at the Belgian GP.The young pilot, who passed his driving test this year, has been focused on completing his school exams, following his mother’s insistence. Hamilton, for his part, also had a complicated week at Spa-Francorchamps, finishing in seventh position and apologizing to Ferrari, while his teammate, Charles Leclerc, achieved a podium finish.

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After the race, Hamilton expressed to Sky Sports F1 his admiration for the performance of his replacement at Mercedes.

“I can’t imagine what it’s like to be doing what he’s doing,” said Hamilton, referring to Antonelli’s age. “I think he’s been doing fantastic. Being thrown into the deep end at 18 is… I didn’t even have a driver’s license when I started racing, so…

Lewis Hamilton

“I think it’s a lot of responsibility for someone and I think he’s doing a great job. And he has a great group of people around him. He has Bono [Hamilton’s former race engineer, Peter Bonnington] by his side, he couldn’t have anyone better.”