Sebastian Vettel’s emotional message to Antonelli after giving him his great record: “Great feats could change the way people look at you but you don’t have to change the way you look at people”

Very few imagined the feat that culminated this past weekend Kimi Antonelli in Mexico. The Italian driver ended up establishing himself as the best driver of the season with the achievement of his first world champion title. It was only the Italian’s second season in the Great Circus, but, with the change in regulations, it was enough to show that the transalpine rider is a special driver.

Kimi has been destroying all precocity records aboard the Mercedes. Toto Wolff opted for him when he barely had experience in single-seaters and was only 18 years old.. Despite the amount of doubts, with only two years he has had enough to prove that he was the right choice. At 20 years and two months and seven days, Antonelli is already world champion.

And by achieving it so young, the Italian is left with one of the most creditable records in Sebastian Vettel, who since 2010 was the youngest driver in history to win the title when he was crowned in Abu Dhabi with only 23 years, four months and 11 days. Very few could predict that someone would lower that figure by more than three years. For this reason, Vettel was one of those who sent an emotional message to Antonelli when he won his record.

“Kimi, congratulations, world champion. Wow! Only some of us have been able to achieve it and no one has been as young as you. You are curious, you listen and you learn quickly. you are not afraid. Your driving has been clean and controlled and at the limit when necessary. You have understood that you can only control what you can control,” said the German in an emotional F1 video.

“You have a unique style and we have enjoyed watching it. When I won my first title, everything seemed to happen the moment I crossed the finish line. I was overwhelmed. I got out of the car and everything around me was going at maximum speed. Everything was in a rush and it was impossible to reflect. I didn’t sleep well for days, so be prepared. But I remember the feeling as soon as I realized it. Holding the title of champion and reading all the names that had achieved it before, I felt proud and satisfied. I realized that the best part was not crossing the finish line that decided the title, but all the careers that led towards it. It is never one race that matters, but all of them. Every race shapes us. And with everything that is coming to you in the coming weeks, I am sure that you will have that desire to compete again.”

“One last piece of advice. Great feats may change the way people look at you, but you don’t have to change the way you look at people.. And now enjoy it. A big hug,” he said in closing.

Vettel debuted in Formula 1 when Antonelli was just a few months old. The German replaced Robert Kubica in the 2007 United States GP at BMW, when Kimi was a 10-month-old baby. 20 years later the Italian surpassed the four-time champion.