Kimi Antonelli, F1 champion: “All those things caught my attention since I was a child and that’s why I was inspired by Senna. I will always be grateful to the Senna family for allowing me to see that and sit in their car”

Kimi Antonelli In recent days he has added some memories that he will never forget and that he will keep for a lifetime. The Mercedes driver, only 20 years old, became the youngest F1 champion last sunday in Mexico. And a few days later, he fulfilled another wish by being able to spend a day with the family of Ayrton Senna, who was always his idol, despite the fact that Kimi never saw him drive as they were from very different times.

There are people who have been quick to compare Kimi with Ayrton, although the young man is still at the beginning of his career and still has a lot to prove despite having already won his first title. Senna stood out for his magic behind the wheel, but also for his values ​​and enormous charisma off the track, something that Kimi has yet to develop over the years. It is useless to compare him with one of the greatest in history, but there are certain striking facts that lead many to do so.

Ayrton Senna died due to the serious accident he suffered in Imola in 1994, a few kilometers from Kimi’s native Bologna. And if that were not enough, Senna died at the Maggiore Hospital in Bologna, where 12 years later (Senna’s most legendary number in F1) Andrea Kimi Antonelli was born.

Some also see physical similarities between the two, and there are more striking data. Both achieved their first victory in F1 in the second race of their second year in the premier category. And both won their first title with number 12.

Be that as it may, Kimi has always highlighted how much Ayrton’s example has influenced his career. He was always his great idol, not only for his driving, but also for what it meant off the track.

“Definitely, the driver he was was incredible… But also his work ethic, his attitude, how dedicated and how much passion he had for the sport. Also the person he was, very empathetic, someone who tried to give back what he received. “All those things caught my attention since I was a child and that’s why I was inspired by him from such a young age.”commented in Sao Paulo on Thursday, where he will pay tribute to him, already as F1 champion, wearing a special helmet in honor of ‘Beco’.

All this, after fulfill the dream of getting into one of his cars on his visit to the Senna family, the Lotus 98T with which Senna raced in F1 in 1986also with a number ’12’ with which Kimi will continue driving in F1 in 2027.

He does not want to wear the ‘1’ and the explanation says a lot about the values ​​he shares with Ayrton: “I’ll stick with the number ’12’ because, obviously, it’s a very special number for me. It’s also a way to keep my feet on the ground, to remain humble.” You don’t want success to go to your head and not wearing the number 1 can be a good help. He doesn’t want F1 and victories to change him.

“I was really excited,” The Italian commented on the day he spent this week with his father Marco, spending an unforgettable day with Senna’s nephew, Bruno and the nieces Bianca and Lalalli. Even there, on the Senna estate, where there is a track, Kimi gave a demonstration of his karting talent.

“It was a very, very special day, a day that I will remember forever. That’s why I will always be grateful to the Senna family for allowing me to see that, and even sit in the car, which was very special. It was an incredible day. I actually didn’t want to leave. I tried to stay there as long as I could, because it was a very nice experience. The Senna family was very open about showing the places where Ayrton used to spend most of his time. It was crazy to think about it,” Kimi explained.

“When I was there, I thought: ‘Wow, Ayrton was really here. He was spending time in his room.’ It was very emotional and a very special day,” he concluded.