Championship moments and Formula 1 tests: Andrea Kimi Antonelli on the moments that made him

Andrea Kimi Antonelli has made a fine start to life in Formula 2, so, as we continue to learn more about the PREMA Racing rookie, we asked him to pick some of the moments in his career that have brought him to this point.

The Italian driver talks us through a few Championship-winning moments in karting and single seaters before giving an honourable mention to a dream opportunity that happened recently.

CIK-FIA KARTING EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP 2020

“So, I was fighting for the Championship, and it came down to the last race. I was a bit behind in terms of points, so I needed to do everything perfectly for the weekend. I had to try to win all the heats and the final as well. In the end, I ended up winning the heats and the final, which was a really tight race because I had a guy behind me for 25 laps, just 0.5s behind but it was a special race.

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“Of course, I felt a lot lighter after to be honest, because I had a lot of weight on my shoulders before that race, a lot of pressure. Of course I wanted to win, but I was behind in the Championship so coming to the end of the weekend with the Championship was a really special moment.

“There was a bit relief to be honest, but it was really special because it was my first European Championship in karting so obviously it was a really great moment and also the way it was won made it even more special.”

ITALIAN F4 TITLE

“That was a special moment because I made the step from karting to single seaters, and it was really good win in F4. Obviously when you move from go karts you never know if you are going to be as fast as you were in karting, so there is always a question mark. So, to bring home the Championship in the first year was a really special moment, especially because it gave me a lot of confidence to keep going.

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“Mugello that year was where I closed out the Championship, and it was a really special race. It was quite tight because we had a few Safety Cars, so it was quite hard to manage all the restarts, but it was a special race because I would go on to win the Championship.

“But another one was for sure Spa. That was my first win in F4 in Europe, and that was really special. It was really good because I felt good for the whole weekend with the car and at the track and also it was my first time at Spa so that was a special win as well.”

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“That was one of my best races, even though the best race is always the next one. So, obviously the best one has yet to come but it was a really good win to be honest, a really special one that also helped me close out the Championship.

“It was in the wet, I was starting P8 and was able to climb up to P1 and then bring the race home. That was a really special one because my dad was there as well, so to share the moment together was a really nice.”

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HONOURABLE MENTION – FIRST TIME IN AN F1 CAR

“I would also say that another special moment was my first time in an F1 car, it was a dream come true. Even though it's not my ultimate dream, but just to get the opportunity to jump in an F1 car was an amazing moment and to feel the car underneath me overall was just amazing.

“To drive was amazing, I think until you drive it you cannot understand how impressive the car is. Until the moment you drive it, you won’t realise how impressive it all is, so I was quite impressed the first time I jumped in the car and for sure it was a really special moment and it's a memory that I will carry with me for a long time.”