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Charles Leclerc says he was hearing buzz about current F1 world championship leader Kimi Antonelli while he was still in karting.
Antonelli’s rookie season was somewhat underwhelming given the hype that surrounded him before he succeeded Lewis Hamilton. He scored three podiums, but also missed out on points in over a third of the races.
Even Antonelli’s father has been surprised by the leap he’s taken at the start of his second year. The 19-year-old won his first race in China and has followed that up with three more in succession, setting a new F1 record.
What did you think of Kimi Antonelli after his rookie season with Mercedes?
Charles Leclerc: I’ve known about Kimi Antonelli for a long time
Antonelli is at the forefront of a new generation of drivers born in the mid-2000s, a group that also features Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar, Haas’ Oliver Bearman and Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto.
They are the successors to the star-studded late 1990s cohort, which featured Leclerc, Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and George Russell.
Leclerc was familiar with those opponents, but is now coming up against new rivals. He was at least aware that Antonelli was coming based on intel from the karting community.
Which driver would you rather have RIGHT NOW: Charles Leclerc or Kimi Antonelli?
The Italian won a series of European karting titles between 2019 and 2021, coinciding with Leclerc’s early years at Ferrari. Antonelli stepped up to Formula 4 cars in 2022 and had reached F2 within two seasons.
“Up until a certain point, the drivers arriving in F1 were drivers I’d raced against: a little older or younger than me,” Leclerc told Gazzetta dello Sport. “Now, however, there are guys arriving who I’ve never raced against in the lower leagues.
“Maybe I’d already heard of them, like Kimi Antonelli, who I’ve heard of since his karting days. And that usually indicates a very special talent.”
Could Charles Leclerc and Kimi Antonelli be Ferrari teammates one day?
Antonelli’s rise to stardom has prompted inevitable speculation about a move to Ferrari.
Indeed, one report even suggested that Ferrari’s owners are determined to sign Antonelli at the earliest opportunity. It’s been over 40 years since an Italian won in red (Michele Alboreto in 1985).
Perhaps Ferrari’s dream is to retain Leclerc, who hasn’t ruled out leaving but dreams of bringing the title to Maranello, and sign Antonelli alongside him. Lewis Hamilton is 41, so is unlikely to stay long-term.
Academy driver Bearman has long been viewed as the natural successor to Hamilton, and that move remains far more likely. Mercedes will be intent on tying Antonelli down long-term.
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