Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton said that Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Miami Grand Prix sprint pole “brought warmth” to his heart this weekend. The ex-Mercedes racer added that it was “such a great story” to see the 18-year-old rookie deliver for his old team.
Antonelli was promoted into the Mercedes line-up to replace Hamilton when the seven-time world champion moved to Ferrari, and the Brackley squad’s choice was vindicated when Antonelli captured pole for Saturday’s sprint at the Miami Grand Prix.
Hamilton re-posted a video of the young Italian’s celebrations on Instagram, which featured the Briton’s former colleagues Toto Wolff and Pete “Bono” Bonnington.
He said the moment was a “great story”, particularly in the context of Mercedes’ decision to promote youth over picking a more experienced driver for 2025.
“I posted because it made me really…last night I saw the video of Bono and Kimi and Toto. And it generally just brought warmth to my heart because honestly, I’ve been in that team for a long, long time,” Hamilton explained.
“Bono is just the best. And I know there was a lot of questions around whether or not to take on a more experienced driver. To then just continue on and continue to work hard and then get a pole, it kind of silences all the critics.
“I love to see that in an underdog. It’s such a great story.”
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Hamilton, who spent 12 years with the team, suggested that Antonelli should not be disheartened by a fraught start to the race on Saturday, in which he was shown the door by Oscar Piastri in the opening lap of the rain-affected sprint.
He noted that the 18-year-old should not change his style, and called upon him to keep going on his current trajectory.
“I’ve not seen the race start, but it was the trickiest of conditions. And we haven’t had any running in the rain here,” Hamilton added.
“So that was definitely a very, very tough scenario. Also to have the two fastest right beside you is going to be very tough always. “I heard it was close in Turn 1. I would just say to continue to do what he’s doing. I think he knows what he’s doing and just continue to enjoy it.”
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Photos from Miami GP – Sprint
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Motorsport Staff
Formula 1
Lewis Hamilton
Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Mercedes
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