Kimi Antonelli has been hailed by former Formula One star Marc Surer and tipped to become a “future champion”.
The Italian sits 81 points clear at the top of the Drivers’ Championship heading into the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after victory in Spain.
In only his second season of Formula One, the 20-year-old has picked up eight wins and been on the podium a dozen times.
Surer, speaking exclusively to GB News through OLBG, feels the Italian will win the Drivers’ Championship this season.
He said: “I think when we see a coming champion, then it’s exactly like him. He comes, and he does the right thing.
“This year we had some races where he could not win, and he still did do a good job. And this impressed me most about this young guy, because even the old ones make more mistakes or try something and lose it.
“He accepts if he cannot win; he doesn’t do crazy things. And for that, I think he is a future champion.
“Not only this year, but he will also be a future champion because he has this mentality, which you need to be a champion.”
Kimi Antonelli has been hailed by former F1 star Marc Surer
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REUTERSAntonelli has been heavily praised by those who work with him and his competitors.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has heavily credited his young driver, describing him as “cool as a cucumber”.
Wolff said: “When he brushes the wall five laps from the end and comes on the radio ‘check the car,’ you’re like: ‘Really, again, white lines, walls,’ but maybe that’s how he keeps himself in the zone.
“Almost his youth helps him a lot because he’s 20. He could stay in this sport for 20 years with so many opportunities. He’s so above all of our expectations and his own. He’s just going with the flow.
Marc Surer told GB News Antonelli ‘will be a future champion’
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GETTY
“I think there is also a genetic factor. You are born cool as a cucumber, or you’re not.”
Ferrari driver and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton believes that “there’s no stopping” the Italian this year.
The Briton told Sky Sports: “I think there’s no stopping him and Mercedes this year.
“They’ve done a phenomenal job, and they deserve it.”
The Italian has eight race wins under his belt this season
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REUTERSAntonelli is trying not to look ahead and is only focusing on the next Grand Prix in front of him and letting the points do the talking.
He said: “I want to keep pushing race by race, keep delivering and keep enjoying it all the way and try to do my best every race, and we will see where we end up at the end of the year.”
Formula One returns on September 26 at the Baku City Circuit in Azerbaijan.
