The Tamesis
It’s golden hour in the Miami Design District, and Kimi Antonelli – the 19-year-old Italian driver currently at the top of the Formula 1 standings – steps out of a Sprinter van into the dim lights. Some people around us seemed to have stumbled upon the moment by accident (I heard a woman behind me say, “I should really start paying attention to F1”); others were waiting for autographs with cellphones and capless markers.
Antonelli was here for a panel discussion with watch experts IWC Schaffhausen, sponsor of his legendary team Mercedes-AMG Petronas, and time was tight, or rather planned to the minute because this was F1, so he stopped briefly for a selfie before being ushered into the IWC boutique by security.
Antonelli is on the verge of a new wave and a new generation in Formula One’s recent rapid development. Among this rising group: 20-year-old Ollie Bearman, 21-year-old Isack Hadjar, 21-year-old Gabriel Bortoleto and 18-year-old Arvid Lindblad. However, Antonelli has become the shining star of this pioneering team. Earlier this year in Shanghai he became the youngest Grand Prix winner in Formula 1 history and the fact that he took pole position at the start of the season speaks for itself.
“I mean, wow, yeah, that’s awesome to think about,” he said from the boutique’s sun-drenched balcony. “But there’s a lot ahead, rather than being behind. The main goal is to be successful in motorsport until the day I can no longer race. I hope that’s the case in many, many ways, many Year. “
Turning 20 – you know, that big milestone – later this Year? “Already twenty…” he said with a smile. “This would be really cool.”
Even by F1’s rather petite standards, Antonelli’s figure is not outstanding. He wears a rope necklace, fastened like a collar, with a silver whale tail charm on it. “I bought this thing seven or eight years ago when we went on a family vacation to Sardinia. My mom bought it for me and I’ve been wearing it ever since. In Italy, they say a whale’s tail brings good luck.”
Like many F1 drivers, Antonelli is obsessed with everything related to cars and racing. He started karting at the age of seven and showed extraordinary ability at an early age. Mercedes-AMG signed him as a junior driver in 2019 at the age of 12 and he worked his way up steadily, making his F1 debut last year, replacing Lewis Hamilton (who later switched to Ferrari).
