Kimi Antonelli doesn’t mince words about comparing himself to Jannik Sinner

One is the leader of the Formula 1 World Championship after three consecutive victories (Sprints excluded), the other is the undisputed ruler of world tennis: Kimi Antonelli and Jannik Sinner are the two brightest faces of Italian sport at the moment and they may soon meet live again, as the Bolognese Mercedes driver himself anticipated during the press conference presenting the Canadian Grand Prix, in Montreal.

“I will try to meet him in Wimbledon – explained Antonelli, referring to Sinner -, the dates partly coincide with the British GP and so I will be around there.” The World Championship leader then wanted to reply to those who seek a comparison between him and the Sesto Pusteria star: “I am really flattered but we are at very different points in our careers: he has already achieved so much, I am much further behind.”

“I have to prove first that I can stay at a high level in my sport, then comparisons can be made,” further explained Antonelli, who with 100 points leads the rainbow standings by 20 lengths over teammate George Russell and 41 over the third in the standings, Ferrari’s Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc.

Despite his very young age, Antonelli wants to prove to everyone that he has a firm head on his shoulders. “The pressure is mounting, Toto Wolff in this sense is of great help because he acts as a shield,” he said. “There is great enthusiasm in the team but I expect McLaren to catch up, not forgetting the desire for revenge that Ferrari and Red Bull have. The European weekends will also be important to understand the new balances: we have to take advantage of the good things we showed in the first part of the season.”