Mercedes loved a robust weekend on the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, with George Russell taking pole place and preserving Max Verstappen at bay to win, and Andrea Kimi Antonelli transferring up from fourth on the grid to complete third. Whereas he’s had a pole place in a Dash occasion earlier than, it’s the primary time Antonelli has been on the rostrum in his rookie season and he says it makes him hungry for extra.
“It was significantly better than what I imagined,” Antonelli stated. “Listening to the gang whereas strolling onto the rostrum, I had huge goosebumps. That’s positively a second I’ll bear in mind for a really very long time.
“It provides you a lift – outcomes like this and this sense, you’ll be able to’t purchase this sense. It is a tremendous feeling and also you simply need extra. I believe the objective now could be to attempt to hold the identical momentum and attempt to obtain extra podiums, and hopefully perhaps the primary win – you by no means know.”
Previous to that particular second, Antonelli needed to take care of loads of strain as he had the 2 McLarens closing in through the ultimate levels of Sunday’s race, and admits he’d tried to remain too near Verstappen and left himself susceptible late.
“I used to be simply hoping for the race to complete, to be trustworthy. I used to be even trying on the display counting the laps as a result of it was very worrying,” he stated. “Within the final stint, I pushed a bit too exhausting behind Max and ultimately degraded the entrance left. The previous couple of laps had been a wrestle, particularly seeing Oscar [Piastri] getting nearer and nearer within the DRS vary. At one level, he even tried to aim the overtake in Flip 1. It took numerous effort.”
Antonelli was praised by Russell after the race and the Italian returned the favor, saying his teammate helps him develop and enhance rapidly.
“I am nonetheless conscious there’s numerous work to do, particularly on the subject of qualifying, making an attempt to be faster originally of the session. However we’re on a great path,” he stated. “The staff is doing an excellent job. Additionally, with George, he is serving to me to push myself even additional. There is a actually good dynamic within the staff. Hopefully, we will carry this momentum into the subsequent few races.”
