It's now been two weeks sinceannouncement of the landing of Andrea Kimi Antonelli in Formula 2, but many still they wonder if this is the right choice. In fact, the seventeen-year-old Italian, after having won the title of the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine, will jump the natural interlude between the two categories, i.e. the Formula 3. Antonelli will debut in Formula 2 with Prema, the Vicenza team that has followed him since his debut on single-seaters.
A name known in the world of Motorsport
His name already says a lot about him. Andrea Kimi Antonelli, son of Marco Antonelli, former pilot e owner of the AKM Motorsport team, what though it remains imprinted it is perhaps his middle name. Whomjust like the 2007 World Champion, Kimi Raikkonen.
However, he confessed that, despite being linked to "The Iceman", his My idol of all time is Ayrton Senna. There are those who already call him “the Hamilton's possible heir” considering that Antonelli, at the young age of 12, signed a ten-year contract with Mercedes AMG Petronas, becoming one of the Academy's junior drivers.
The confirmation: Kimi Antonelli moves to Formula 2
The rumor on category jump on Kimi's part it was arrived on the eve of the Italian Grand Prix, in Monza. On that occasion he was the Mercedes team principal, Toto wolff, to express themselves, without however confirming or denying the news.
Last The official press release was published on October 24th, in which it is announced that Kimi Antonelli will race in the Formula 2 championship in 2024, effectively skipping the transition to Formula 3. Some still wonder if the transition from FRECA to F2 would not be too risky for the young person, who risks "burn stages important" to increase his experience in the world of Motorsport.
Pros and cons that led to this choice
"I know that it will be a big leap and I am aware that it will be a major challenge, given that the level is really high", he has declared Antonelli after the announcement that he will race in Formula 2. The extent of the category jump is indisputable, it certainly will be more difficult than the transition from Formula 4 to F3, bypassing FRECA, which in recent times they accomplished pilots like Bearman, Barnard, Tsolov, Gray and Barter.
However, Kimi has an advantage, or rather, he has no disadvantage compared to his opponents. The Bolognese will debut in the preparatory category in the season in which there will be a regulatory change. In doing so, Antonelli will have to adapt to a new car, which the other 21 drivers on the grid will also have to do.
There is however a previous, that is, that of Gianluca Petecof, Brazilian driver who made the leap from Formula Regional to F2021 with Campos Racing in 2, disappearing but soon from the scene due to a lack of funds. For Kimi Antonelli the situation is different, since since 2019 he has been supported by the Mercedes Academy, who discovered his talent already in his karting days.
The results speak for themselves
The track speaks clearly, the results obtained by Kimi Antonelli are incredible and certainly had a positive influence on his transition to Formula 2. The Mercedes Junior driver graduated champion of Italian Formula 4 and ADAC in 2022. At the beginning of 2023, he takes to the track with Mumbai Falcons, supported by Prema and wins the title of champion of the Formula Regional Middle East. Last October 15th he added to the list of her titles, that of FRECA champion, obtained with a race to spare.
Kimi Antonelli, in the period of time from September 2021 (debut on single-seaters after turning fifteen) to today, he took part in 88 races. In these races played he obtained 30 pole positions and 57 podiums. In the 57 times he stood on the podium, Antonelli placed himself on the winner's step 34 times. Taking the results coming from the track to the extreme, we obtain that the young driver from Bologna It has a success rate – ergo of victory – of 39%.
However, it is worth underlining that beyond the numbers there is a boy who doesn't get excited, but what is it aware of his abilities as well as his weaknesses. Undoubtedly Kimi is talented, which however combined with his be self-critical, allows him to identify critical points and improve them. We conclude by saying that we can't wait to see it on the track, and you?
