Kimi Antonelli has careworn 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 12 months.
The Italian has turn 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 levels – however Crimson Bull lined him off with two well timed pit stops.
The 18-year-old resisted stress from the McLaren duo within the latter levels.
Talking within the FIA press convention after the race, Antonelli mirrored on his first podium end.
“I imply, I’m nonetheless conscious there’s plenty of work to do, particularly on the subject of qualifying, attempting to be faster firstly of the session. However we’re on a very good path,” Antonelli mentioned.
“The staff is doing an ideal job. Additionally, with George, he’s serving to me to push myself even additional. There’s a very good dynamic within the staff. Hopefully, we will carry this momentum into the following few races.”
Antonelli conceded that the closing laps had been “tense” because of the stress from Piastri behind.
“I used to be simply hoping for the race to complete, to be sincere,” he added. “I used to be even wanting on the display counting the laps as a result of it was very tense. Within the final stint, I pushed a bit too onerous behind Max and ultimately degraded the entrance left.
“The previous couple of laps had been a wrestle, particularly seeing Oscar getting nearer and nearer within the DRS vary. At one level, he even tried to try the overtake in flip one. It took plenty of effort.”
First F1 podium “higher than I imagined”
Antonelli’s first podium was particular, notably as his father, Marco Antonelli, was current.
The Canadian crowd had been additionally heard chanting “Kimi” when he spoke to Nico Rosberg in parc ferme after the race.
“Properly, it was significantly better than what I imagined,” Antonelli defined. “Listening to the group whereas strolling onto the rostrum, I had huge goosebumps. That’s positively a second I’ll bear in mind for a really very long time.
“It offers you a lift – outcomes like this and this sense, you’ll be able to’t purchase this sense. It’s an incredible feeling and also you simply need extra. I believe the objective now’s to attempt to maintain the identical momentum and attempt to obtain extra podiums, and hopefully perhaps the primary win – you by no means know sooner or later.”
