Kimi Antonelli has admitted it is “mentally draining” fighting to become world champion for the first time – as the Italian teenager laid out his plan to dominate Formula One and become an all-time great.
The 19-year-old, in just his second season, heads into Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix with a 45-point buffer at the top of the standings after winning six of the 10 rounds staged.
Lewis Hamilton, the man whose shoes he filled at Mercedes, is currently his closest rival, with team-mate George Russell 50 points back.
Antonelli endured a turbulent first year in the sport – finishing 169 points behind Russell – but he has largely been in a class of one so far to create a narrative that securing this year’s crown could be the first of many.
And in an interview with the Press Association, Antonelli said: “That is the goal, to be one of the best in the sport and win as much as possible.
“I want to make my own legacy – to be remembered as definitely one of the greats.
“Obviously it requires a lot to be able to be consistent, and to deliver every year because F1 is draining. It takes away a lot of energy, a lot of effort, and a lot of sacrifices.
“What is incredible about Lewis (41) and Fernando (Alonso – 44) is that they have been in the sport so long, yet they still have the same hunger and determination, and that is a lot harder than what it looks like.
“When you are on the inside, and especially when you fight for your first world championship, it is mentally very draining. It is not easy.
“When you grow up and you have been in that situation over and over again, then you are able to cope with it much better. But I am not going to lie, weekends are demanding for me.”
The last time two Mercedes drivers sparred for the title was a decade ago. Hamilton’s relationship with Nico Rosberg boiled over, leading to a toxic and fractious atmosphere within the team.
Antonelli and Russell clashed in Canada earlier this year. Antonelli felt Russell warranted a penalty for pushing him off the track. Team principal Toto Wolff, who is keen to avoid any animosity between his drivers, told Antonelli to stop “moaning” on the radio.
“What they want to avoid is that the competition gets personal,” continued Antonelli. “We know that we don’t want to recreate a bad environment in the team, we don’t want to split the team, we want the team to be united. Of course, sometimes, one of us is a bit p****d, not happy, but we move on.
“It is not like we are going to go out for dinner, but it (his relationship with Russell) will remain as it is now to maintain the good environment. I have never lived a situation where it isn’t like that, but I can only imagine how bad it would be.”
Antonelli, 20 next month, would eclipse Sebastian Vettel as the sport’s youngest world champion by three years if he converts his lead at the summer break into a maiden crown.
“Finding myself in this position is surreal,” he concluded. “If I can achieve the goal, it would be a dream come true.
“But the job is not finished. I have to keep pushing. I have to keep raising the bar. Many people ask me: ‘Oh, are you going to start thinking about the championship?’ But that is pointless. The situation can flip in a millisecond. There is still a long way to go.”
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