Championship Leader Antonelli: Racing Hamilton And Verstappen Is A Lesson Every Time

Formula 1 championship leader Kimi Antonelli finished second in the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, joining winner Max Verstappen and third-placed Lewis Hamilton on the podium. Speaking at the post-race press conference at Sepang, the Mercedes driver explained what it means to race against a four-time and a seven-time world champion.

Antonelli said it is always great to compete on the same track as them, adding that Hamilton rewrote the history of the sport and that Verstappen is doing the same. He said he tries to learn as much as possible every time he is in a close fight with them.

The race was chaotic. Heavy rain delayed the start by one hour and 40 minutes, and the confusion continued once racing began. Antonelli started third and finished second, but said there is still plenty to learn from restarts after multiple Safety Car periods.

The young driver pointed to how Verstappen handled a restart on slick tyres on a slippery track. He said Verstappen positioned the car better and had a better feel for grip through the first two corners, which allowed him to pass. Being overtaken was not pleasant and he was annoyed, but it was a good lesson to learn from.

Of Hamilton, Antonelli said he is a driver who keeps his head down and does his best even when things go badly, something they have seen many times over the years.