Kimi Antonelli has confused the necessity to enhance regardless of securing his maiden F1 podium on the Canadian Grand Prix.
Antonelli completed third on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Sunday, giving Mercedes their first double-podium end of the yr.
The Italian has develop into the third-youngest podium finisher in F1 historical past, with Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll barely youthful once they completed within the high three for the primary time.
Antonelli drove a mature race to complete third, overtaking Oscar Piastri on the opening lap.
Antonelli pressured Verstappen at varied phases – however Pink Bull coated him off with two well timed pit stops.
The 18-year-old resisted stress from the McLaren duo within the latter phases.
Talking within the FIA press convention after the race, Antonelli mirrored on his first podium end.
“I imply, I’m nonetheless conscious there’s a number of work to do, particularly in terms of qualifying, making an attempt to be faster at the start of the session. However we’re on an excellent path,” Antonelli mentioned.
“The group is doing an awesome job. Additionally, with George, he’s serving to me to push myself even additional. There’s a extremely good dynamic within the group. Hopefully, we will carry this momentum into the following few races.”
Antonelli conceded that the closing laps have been “annoying” as a result of stress from Piastri behind.
“I used to be simply hoping for the race to complete, to be trustworthy,” he added. “I used to be even wanting on the display counting the laps as a result of it was very annoying. Within the final stint, I pushed a bit too laborious behind Max and ultimately degraded the entrance left.
“The previous couple of laps have been a battle, particularly seeing Oscar getting nearer and nearer within the DRS vary. At one level, he even tried to aim the overtake in flip one. It took a number of effort.”
First F1 podium “higher than I imagined”
Antonelli’s first podium was particular, significantly as his father, Marco Antonelli, was current.
The Canadian crowd have been additionally heard chanting “Kimi” when he spoke to Nico Rosberg in parc ferme after the race.
“Effectively, it was significantly better than what I imagined,” Antonelli defined. “Listening to the group whereas strolling onto the rostrum, I had large goosebumps. That’s undoubtedly a second I’ll keep in mind for a really very long time.
“It offers you a lift – outcomes like this and this sense, you possibly can’t purchase this sense. It’s a tremendous feeling and also you simply need extra. I believe the aim now’s to attempt to maintain the identical momentum and attempt to obtain extra podiums, and hopefully possibly the primary win – you by no means know sooner or later.”
