René Arnoux speaks plainly and directly about Kimi Antonelli

Former Formula 1 driver René Arnoux has praised Andrea Kimi Antonelli for his performance in the first half of the World Championship in the premier class. The Mercedes driver entered the summer break leading the overall standings, with a 50-point lead over Lewis Hamilton and a 59-point lead over his teammate George Russell.

Arnoux described Antonelli as “a special talent who isn’t afraid of anyone,” highlighting his young age: “Antonelli reminds me of Lewis Hamilton, who, like him, rose through the ranks quickly. Both came up through the ranks of a top-tier team—the Italian at Mercedes and the Briton at McLaren—achieving excellent results in every category. Then they had the opportunity to race right away in a competitive car, which has its pros and cons. On the one hand, a young driver has to handle greater pressure, risking burnout, but on the other, he has the opportunity to compete for the most important titles,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Arnoux particularly highlighted Antonelli’s ability to not let problems get to him: “Niki Lauda and Alain Prost were masters at this—it’s no coincidence they won seven World Championships. Kimi can learn a lot by rewatching their races, but he’s already starting from an excellent foundation. His start to the season has been positive because he’s handled moments that could have knocked him down—such as in Australia, China, and Japan—with ease. He needs to keep it up; anything can happen over the course of a season.”

The chorus of praise for the Bologna native extends far beyond the paddock. Even former Haas team principal Günther Steiner spoke with great enthusiasm: “Kimi Antonelli will win. I think this young talent is doing an incredible job. I never would have said ‘Kimi’ six months ago, but now… he’s really delivering excellent performances. Mercedes is also in a strong position. I believe Kimi will take home the title.” Former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone is on the same page, stating bluntly in an interview with Blick: “Kimi Antonelli will win the World Championship, even though Verstappen remains the best driver on the track.” Words of praise even came from his direct rival, Max Verstappen, who told Sky Sports that the driver from Bologna is “really strong, really solid—the strongest on the team,” adding: “First and foremost, he’s a good person and a very strong driver, so it’s a great combination.”