Lewis Hamilton left a message for Kimi Antonelli earlier than leaving Mercedes which the Italian needed to wait till the primary European race weekend of the season to learn
Mercedes have revealed footage of the emotional second Kimi Antonelli lastly received to learn a message left for him by Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time champion mentioned on the finish of final season that he had penned a to not the person who was to take his place at Mercedes.
Hamilton left that message within the Mercedes motorhome. Nonetheless, because the crew solely makes use of it at European races, Antonelli has needed to anticipate an opportunity to learn the message left for him by the Brit earlier than he joined Ferrari.
He lastly did so on Thursday as he arrived within the Imola paddock forward of this weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. And Mercedes have put out video of the second on social media.
In it, Antonelli is seen arriving in his room on the Mercedes hospitality unit and says: “Oh, the well-known message!” He then stops to learn it earlier than persevering with: “Thanks, Lewis. Very nice. I am getting emotional! Thanks, I actually admire it. Very nice from you, thanks a lot.”
The contents of the message should not revealed within the video, however it does present the piece of paper bearing Hamilton’s handwriting which is framed and hooked up to the wall in Antonelli’s room.
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And the 18-year-old mentioned he’ll draw inspiration from what Hamilton wrote to him as he races at an Imola monitor which is 20 miles from his dwelling in Bologna this weekend. “It says lots about Lewis as an individual,” he mentioned of the observe.
“I can see loads of the human facet of Lewis – not solely the motive force. And studying the message, it made my yr to obtain such a message from such a determine in our sport.
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“He has carried out a lot and he is nonetheless proper there giving his greatest. And, he is likely one of the greatest in historical past. To obtain such a message, after all, is superb. It comprises some recommendation and I exploit it as motivation as effectively to go on the market and do my greatest.”
Concerning the choice to connect it to the wall in his room, Antonelli added: “I am going to hold it there as a result of it’s so good that I simply need to depart it there as a result of each time I enter the room I can see the message. It is a actually good reminder.”
Italian followers will likely be cheering on Ferrari as typical however Antonelli’s presence will give them one other determine to cheer. He’s solely the second driver from his homeland to characteristic in F1 since 2011, the opposite being Antonio Giovinazzi who began 62 races for Sauber.
Antonelli mentioned: “For me, a house race in entrance of the Italian followers, my household and my pals who will likely be attending – it should be crucial to handle the vitality, particularly in these moments the place I can and check out to not waste vitality in one thing that is not helpful.”
