Lewis Hamilton has spoken of the “warmth” he felt watching Kimi Antonelli take a major step forward in his F1 journey at the Miami GP- just months after replacing the seven-time world champion at Mercedes.
At Miami, the 17-year-old stunned the paddock by securing pole position for the Sprint race, becoming the youngest ever pole sitter in F1 history. While the moment marked a historic personal milestone for Antonelli, it also reflected Mercedes’ faith in their long-time junior.
Especially, under Toto Wolff, who opted for youth over experience when Hamilton left for Ferrari.
“I posted because it made me… I saw the video of Bono and Kimi and Toto, and it genuinely just brought warmth to my heart,” Hamilton said, addressing his Instagram story, congratulating his former colleagues and Antonelli.
“I’ve been in that team for a long, long time. Bono is just the best, and I know there was a lot of question [marks] around whether or not to take on a more experienced driver.”
Lewis Hamilton proud of Kimi Antonelli’s F1 progress
Despite limited seat time before his F1 debut, Antonelli has already exceeded expectations in his rookie season. He currently sits sixth in the Drivers’ Championship with 48 points.
At Miami, his sprint pole achieved in front of a raucous crowd at the International Autodrome was a headline moment for both driver and team.
Hamilton continued: “To then continue on and continue to work hard and get a pole – it kind of silences all the critics. I love to see that in an underdog. It’s such a great story.”
Antonelli’s run at the front didn’t last long in the Sprint, however. A bold move from Oscar Piastri pushed him wide, and an unsafe release from Max Verstappen in the pit lane saw the rookie clipped in a minor collision.
Still, Antonelli salvaged points from the session and rebounded with P3 in the main qualifying and a P6 finish in the Grand Prix.
For all the buzz around Antonelli, Hamilton believed the key is to keep the focus steady. He advised his successor, “I would just say to continue doing what he’s doing. I think he knows what he’s doing – and just continue to enjoy it.”
With Mercedes currently second in the Constructors’ standings, Antonelli’s rapid development has been central to their campaign. Though the season is long, Miami marked more than just a result, it cemented the Italian teenager’s place in the spotlight.
