Kimi Antonelli is already F1 champion ahead of this weekend’s race in Brazil.
Kimi Antonelli is already the world champion, but there is still unfinished business for him and his Mercedes team in Formula One this season. He cannot be caught in the drivers’ standings, 119 points clear of nearest challenger Max Verstappen with only 100 left on the table across the final four rounds of the year. But Mercedes do still have some work to do in the constructors’ championship, as Ferrari are 126 points adrift but still mathematically able to catch the Silver Arrows.
The first opportunity the Scuderia will have to eat into that gap comes this weekend at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. And though Antonelli’s title celebrations have already begun, he is determined not to take his foot off the accelerator just yet.
Speaking at an event in Brazil with Petronas, Mercedes’ long-time commercial partner and title sponsor, Antonelli said: “It’s such a great achievement that it takes time to understand and to realise, but I’m just so happy. It was a dream of mine to become world champion and finally we did it.
“But we just want to win more, we just want to win more and more. Definitely, when I would go back home, I will have a bit more time to think about it. But now, we’re in Brazil and the goal is to try and go and win this weekend.”
The locals love a champion in Brazil and they will no doubt take Antonelli, whose comments above underline that he is a true racer, to their hearts. He has no Brazilian blood himself, but his racing idol is Ayrton Senna who is a mythical figure in the South American country.
Antonelli chose to race with the number 12 in F1 to pay homage to Senna, as it was the number with which the Brazilian won the first of his three world championships. And he will stick with it next year, having said he will snub the chance to race with the number one on his car.
Antonelli will also drive with a tribute to Senna on his helmet at Interlagos this weekend. “This is one of the most special weekends of the year for me,” the Italian racer said.
“The support is very incredible around here, the passion for Formula One is incredible and it’s also a very good track. It’s a really cool combination, a great city with a lot of nature, we’ve got a great atmosphere, a great track and so it’s a perfect combination. And also it’s the race of my hero, so it adds a little bit extra.
“I would love to win here, it would be lovely to win in the future and to even win a championship here, to claim it here. Ayrton is my hero, he’s a big hero for Brazil. I had the opportunity to go and visit the Senna family as well and have a look around and just see his car from 1986. It was a true emotion just to be able to experience that.
“If I could pick a race to win, it would be this one. We’ll be here in Brazil and hopefully we can do it this weekend. Also, we’ll have a special helmet to celebrate Brazil this weekend, to celebrate Ayrton and to celebrate his 35 years ever since he won in sixth gear. Hopefully, it’s going to be a very special one.
“The support from Brazil has always been incredible and that’s why I’m so excited to come here because it feels kind of like a home race, even though it’s not. But it feels like a home race because the support is just so great from Brazilians.
“I will always try to carry Senna’s legacy because he’s very important, he’s a hero for me and his legacy is just so strong around the world. I’m just very happy and privileged to be able to use the number 12 and I will always get inspired by him, because he was not only a great driver, but he was also a very special person outside the track and what he did for Brazil.
“To see still nowadays the Senna Foundation run from the Senna family and to see his legacy being still so strong, and to still see how much he’s loved here in Brazil and around the world is really great. That’s why I picked him as my inspiration for now and for the years to come.”