P1racenews AI automatic summary:
F1 pundit names ‘impressive’ rookie who’s ‘on the same trajectory’ as Oscar Piastri
F1 pundit Davide Valsecchi sees potential for Kimi Antonelli’s career to mirror that of Oscar Piastri due to their trajectories. Antonelli recently achieved his first F1 podium finish at the Canadian Grand Prix, ranking as the third-youngest podium finisher in F1 history. However, he faced challenges in his rookie season with reliability issues slowing his progress. Antonelli also faces tough competition from standout performer George Russell. Valsecchi noted similarities between Antonelli and Piastri, who steadily improved to lead the 2025 F1 drivers’ standings for McLaren. Notably, Antonelli’s decision to race for Mercedes rather than Ferrari may provide him with an advantage given the intense scrutiny faced by Ferrari drivers in the Italian press.
