Get all your news in one place.

100's of premium titles.
One app.

Get all your news in one place.

100's of premium titles. One news app.

Motorsport

Lydia Mee

Kimi Antonelli admits he sometimes wishes he could go unrecognised as he opens up on rising fame

Kimi Antonelli Andrea Kimi Antonelli Mercedes Italy

Mercedes Formula 1 driver Kimi Antonelli has admitted that he sometimes wishes he could go "unrecognised" as he learns to cope with his newfound fame in Italy.

Speaking during the drivers' press conference ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, Antonelli was asked how he is dealing with the attention in his home country as his public profile increases. While the Italian welcomes the passionate backing of his local fanbase, he explained that managing the resulting pressure remains a priority for him.

"It’s great to see the support when I go back home," the current championship leader explained. "As Italians, we’re quite emotional. We show our emotions a lot. So to see the excitement is great. However, you also need to be careful with the expectations that are built. But it’s always great to be back home, especially after a good weekend, to see so much support.

"Also, to the other question of being famous, there are times when you would like not to be recognised when you do certain things, when you go for dinner. But that’s also part of being an athlete.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes (Photo by: Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images)

"To be fair, as long as you’re able to embrace these moments, I think it’s also very nice and very enjoyable. But, of course, there are times when I would like to be unrecognised. At the same time, I know it’s part of it, and I’m very happy this way."

Antonelli, who is only in his second season in F1, currently leads the drivers' championship by 25 points over his Mercedes team-mate George Russell in second. The 19-year-old became the youngest driver to lead the standings after back-to-back wins at the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix. He continued his strong form with wins in the three subsequent grands prix in Miami, Canada and Monaco.

He has not celebrated on the top step of the podium since the race around the streets of Monte Carlo. He retired from the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, finished third in Austria and 15th in Britain.

Photos from Belgian GP - Friday

50 Formula 1

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Alexander Albon, Williams

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Like Crawford, Aston Martin

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Alexander Albon, Williams; Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Audi car tech details

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal of Haas

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Land Norris, McLaren

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Aston Martin F1 Team pitstop practice

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Ryo Hirakawa, Haas

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Toto Wolff, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

George Russell, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Friday

Sign up to read this article

Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.

Already a member? Sign in here

Top stories on inkl right now

Death toll from Venezuela's twin earthquakes rises above 5,000 as IMF announces emergency funds

Death toll from Venezuela's twin earthquakes rises above 5,000 as IMF announces emergency funds

Venezuela's death toll from twin earthquakes now exceeds five thousand. The International Monetary Fund has provided emergency financial support for recovery. These funds will aid affected communities and rebuild essential public services. Thousands of people were injured, rescued, and left homeless by the disaster. Relief operations continue with international rescuers…

The Economic Times

Bubba Wallace moves on and accepts NASCAR Atlanta penalty

Bubba Wallace moves on and accepts NASCAR Atlanta penalty

The No. 23 team lost a lot of points due to that last second decision

What Could the USMNT’s Starting Lineup Look Like at the 2030 World Cup?

What Could the USMNT’s Starting Lineup Look Like at the 2030 World Cup?

The 2030 World Cup will see most of the USMNT’s current stars in their late 20s and early 30s.

Sports Illustrated

Republican lawmaker Ralph Norman to join race to succeed Lindsey Graham in South Carolina

Republican lawmaker Ralph Norman to join race to succeed Lindsey Graham in South Carolina

Congressman to run for seat despite Donald Trump backing Graham’s sister, Darline, should she choose to run

The Guardian - US

One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites

Already a member? Sign in here

North Dakota men who discover they were switched as newborns sue hospital

North Dakota men who discover they were switched as newborns sue hospital

Kyle Bylin and Jeremy Morrison uncovered the truth after Bylin received an at-home DNA test as a Christmas gift

The Guardian - US

Bobby Dale Earnhardt explains why he's no longer running full ARCA season

Bobby Dale Earnhardt explains why he's no longer running full ARCA season

Earnhardt has yet to miss a race this year, but that will change next weekend at IRP

Related Stories

Top stories on inkl right now

Death toll from Venezuela's twin earthquakes rises above 5,000 as IMF announces emergency funds

Death toll from Venezuela's twin earthquakes rises above 5,000 as IMF announces emergency funds

Venezuela's death toll from twin earthquakes now exceeds five thousand. The International Monetary Fund has provided emergency financial support for recovery. These funds will aid affected communities and rebuild essential public services. Thousands of people were injured, rescued, and left homeless by the disaster. Relief operations continue with international rescuers…

The Economic Times

Bubba Wallace moves on and accepts NASCAR Atlanta penalty

Bubba Wallace moves on and accepts NASCAR Atlanta penalty

The No. 23 team lost a lot of points due to that last second decision

What Could the USMNT’s Starting Lineup Look Like at the 2030 World Cup?

What Could the USMNT’s Starting Lineup Look Like at the 2030 World Cup?

The 2030 World Cup will see most of the USMNT’s current stars in their late 20s and early 30s.

Sports Illustrated

Republican lawmaker Ralph Norman to join race to succeed Lindsey Graham in South Carolina

Republican lawmaker Ralph Norman to join race to succeed Lindsey Graham in South Carolina

Congressman to run for seat despite Donald Trump backing Graham’s sister, Darline, should she choose to run

The Guardian - US

One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites

Already a member? Sign in here

North Dakota men who discover they were switched as newborns sue hospital

North Dakota men who discover they were switched as newborns sue hospital

Kyle Bylin and Jeremy Morrison uncovered the truth after Bylin received an at-home DNA test as a Christmas gift

The Guardian - US

Bobby Dale Earnhardt explains why he's no longer running full ARCA season

Bobby Dale Earnhardt explains why he's no longer running full ARCA season

Earnhardt has yet to miss a race this year, but that will change next weekend at IRP

Our Picks

New D4vd song appears on Spotify as jailed streamer David Burke awaits July 21 murder case hearing

A new D4vd song titled Marcescence briefly appeared on Spotify even though it could not be played, surprising fans as David Burke remains in jail. A matching YouTube video has led some listeners to believe it is an unreleased track, but nothing has been confirmed. Meanwhile, Burke has pleaded not…

The Times of India

SoCal man was shocked Scientific American’s ‘expert’ wasn’t one, So he ran bathtub experiment to prove the magazine’s opinion on Lincoln pool wrong

“This is the level of nerdiness we need keeping peeps accountable.”

We Got This Covered

“I don’t belong on TV, I should be in a circus!”: How ZZ Top’s Afterburner continued one of the most unlikely success stories of the 80s

ZZ Top hit big with Eliminator. So they repeated the formula with Afterburner

Bring back the catalogs

In an era of instant gratification, old-fashioned anticipation can reclaim its magic

'He Is A Psychopath': Ex-Pal Exposes How D4vd Fooled Friends Over Slain Teenager Celeste Rivas

Former friend Aysia Collins says she confronted musician D4vd about his alleged sexual relationship with 13‑year‑old fan Celeste Rivas, only to be persuaded the girl was an adult.

International Business Times UK

South Carolina Tattoo Rules Face First Amendment Lawsuit Over Face And Neck Ink Ban

A federal lawsuit challenges South Carolina's bans on tattoos above the shoulders and near churches, arguing these restrictions violate First Amendment rights and hinder artistic expression.

International Business Times UK

Fourteen days free

Download the app

One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.

Download on the AppStore

Get it on Google Play