Kimi Antonelli wins again: 'Motivation for the next championship'

When GPblog last spoke to Kimi Antonelli, he was the (Italian) Formula 4 champion. Now he has won another championship. This time the Formula Regional Middle East Championship. In fact, Andrea Kimi Antonelli won as a rookie in the championship held this winter between the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, proving once again that he is the rising star of Italian motorsport. GPblog spoke to him about this victory and his prospects for the rest of the season.

A new experience

For the 16-year-old from Bologna, a member of the Mercedes academy, it was the first championship with Formula 3 cars. "It is a better car than the F4 because it obviously has more power and has more aerodynamics, so you have to understand it. I honestly got on well, I liked it and I'm enjoying it, I still have to improve a little bit and I still have to get to know it better," explains Antonelli, who immediately got used to the new category.

In theory, the acclimatisation with the new car could have been compromised by the injury that kept Antonelli away from the wheel during the winter, but this seemed to have no impact. "I did very few days [of testing] because of the injury and let's say the Emirates was very useful because I got to know the car," he says, showing how the learning curve was very quick, given the final championship result.

In fact, Antonelli won the championship but says that in addition to the satisfaction, there is also the knowledge that he has learned a lot about the category, which is new to him. "It was a good experience because I learnt a lot, especially about the car but also about how to behave in the race because with this car it is much more difficult to race, it is much more difficult to follow your opponents."

An unexpected victory

Antonelli's victory in the Formula Regional Middle East came as a rookie, a result that even he did not expect. "I had expectations, but not very high ones," he admits, but as the races went by the driver from Bologna realised that he could do it: "I realised that I could win it at the end of Dubai, the penultimate round because I had so many points ahead of me and so I knew that if I did not make any mistakes I could win it."

The official confirmation of victory came in Abu Dhabi, on the same circuit where Formula 1 closes their seasons. A now iconic circuit, which Antonelli particularly appreciates. "It's a track I like a lot, it's technical. I have to say that the whole context is beautiful, the track is really well maintained - especially because Formula One also goes there - and it's nice to race there because it's also safe, you have escape routes and you can push without problems, make mistakes," he says, singing the praises of the track that was the scene of the famous fight between Verstappen and Hamilton in 2021.

Focused on the goal

The Italian driver already has his eyes on the next step of his season: "For sure I am very happy because first of all, I did not expect to be able to win, but then it is a good feeling because this motivates you for the next championship, the European one, which will be very important". In fact, Kimi Antonelli will soon be engaged in the European Formula Regional, where he is aiming to confirm himself as the next Italian star.

"I always think about the present, about what is the objective I have," he explains, adding later: "at the moment I am focused on the objective which is the European championship and we have to do well there, then later when it is all over we will think about the future." The Mercedes junior therefore now only has his mind on the European championship, which will also be another important step in his personal growth: "Each time I try to get to know myself better and better, and each time I become more aware of the capabilities I have," he says.

And what are the prospects for this new championship? "Seeing how we did in the Emirates, I know that you can do very well and you just have to keep working well with the team and also try to improve. It won't be easy because in any case there will be other adversaries and so the level will be very high," is Antonelli's answer, who then concludes by saying: "I know we can do well, but we just have to keep working hard and keep improving.