P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Kimi Antonelli sheds light on Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes hospitality visit at the Belgian Grand Prix
Kimi Antonelli shared that Lewis Hamilton paid a visit to him and his former team prior to the F1 Belgian Grand Prix, as Antonelli replaced Hamilton at Mercedes for the 2025 F1 season after Hamilton’s departure. Antonelli displayed glimpses of speed in his rookie F1 season, securing pole in the Miami sprint race and achieving his first podium at the Canadian Grand Prix. Despite this, Antonelli has faced challenges since the start of the European season, coinciding with Mercedes’ decline in performance, with George Russell only reaching the podium once in the last seven races. Antonelli described his conversation with Hamilton at Spa, where Hamilton offered words of encouragement and advice. Hamilton, in his post-race interview, praised Antonelli’s efforts at just 18 years old, emphasizing the pressure on him but acknowledging his strong performance and the support from his team. However, the Belgian GP proved difficult for Antonelli, as he struggled in qualifying and expressed the need to improve his starting position in future races to unleash his true potential.
