By: The white shirt standing out among Mercedes’ black-clad personnel in the Monza paddock. A constant but discreet presence who, true to his nature, does not shy away from the conversations at the back of the garages, his natural habitat. His manners and simplicity put those he speaks to at ease. This is Marco Antonelli, Kimi’s father, who a few months ago gave this writer an exclusive interview in which we discussed his work in motorsport, as well as the positive period Andrea is enjoying in F1, made possible by his talent but also by the support of Mercedes and a normal family. It is a period that everyone hopes can last a long time, for him and for Italian motorsport, bringing huge joy as it did last Sunday at Monza.
Marco, you often follow Kimi to Grands Prix: how do you choose which races to attend?
"Let’s say Kimi is in good hands. He is part of the Mercedes family, it is as if we were there. I am relaxed. I have a team active in motorsport, so I have to strike the usual balance. I feel confident that, at this stage, Kimi can manage on his own too".
Is Mercedes like a second family?
"Absolutely. I am extremely reassured to know he is at the track with the Mercedes family; I know he is in safe hands".
Did your work in motorsport influence Kimi’s decision to become a driver?
"Kimi was practically born in the garages. When he was in his mother’s womb, we were racing in the WTCC at Magny-Cours and he would kick whenever he heard the cars being started. It had an effect on him. Then, obviously, he showed that he had this passion and, even if we may have had an influence, it was then his choice, not ours".
You were also a driver: do you see yourself in Kimi?
"No, he is faster than me (laughs, ed.). We belong to two different eras. Back then, we were drivers with the knife between our teeth, going all-in into corners and banging wheels. Motorsport is different now. But he has always been combative; that is where I see myself in him".
Has your role alongside Kimi at Grands Prix changed over time, or has your support as a father remained the same?
"At most, I can give my opinion if I see something that I believe is not right, but he must always assess it and discuss it with the engineers, with Bono (Peter Bonnington, ed.). At most, I can have my say as someone who has lived in motorsport for years. But everything has to be verified. I want to be alongside Kimi because if things go well, we celebrate together, but also to be there for him if things do not go well".
Do you think Kimi is surprising people, or was this the progress you expected?
"I have to say that Toto Wolff believed in Kimi’s progress more than I did. As a father, I am not overly biased; I have always been a little sceptical about my son’s potential because you are always afraid that he will not be as strong as he should be. I am always very cautious when making comments".
But things are going well...
"Kimi is doing well, but I think he still has to grow: in one year of F1, you cannot learn what the others, his rivals, have learned in eight or 10 years".
He is leading the F1 world championship and you think he still has room to grow?
"I think he still has a lot to learn, and I think he can do that over the next few years. He will need time; that is normal. I think he will be truly ready in a few years".
You and Toto Wolff have always been certain of Kimi’s strength, even in the face of criticism and difficulties. Was it difficult to manage those moments?
"When you are in a position like Kimi was last year, in the spotlight, as a rookie in a team like Mercedes, following Lewis Hamilton and under a great deal of pressure, you always have many doubts or criticisms. You wonder whether you will be able to do it or not. In his journey, he had negative moments, but that is part of the early stages, especially in those circumstances".
A difficult phase that required great mental strength to come through...
"I always thought he could come through it. I always thought he could do well. Let’s say the difficult moments were only a passing phase".
What do you think of Toto Wolff’s work with Kimi?
"Toto is a great man. Both for being where he is and for what he has done in his life. He is a great man. A balanced person, a measured man with experience, and he is also a family man. We could not have ended up any better".
What do you think is Kimi’s secret?
"Kimi is a normal lad, who goes bowling with his friends and goes to the pub. He is someone who wants to be around other people, have fun and not think only about F1. He knows it is his job and treats it as such. It is as if he had to drive a bus, except he drives an F1 car. He is a lad like everyone else. He wants to spend time with his friends and do what all boys his age do. Perhaps his strength is precisely his normality".
