Kimi Antonelli has struggled in recent weeks after making a strong start to his Formula 1 career; Lewis Hamilton defended his Mercedes replacement after visiting him during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend;watch the Hungarian Grand Prix live on Sky Sports F1 from Friday
Wednesday 30 July 2025 12:49, UK
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Lewis Hamilton has defended Kimi Antonelli, insisting his replacement at Mercedes has “been doing fantastically” despite a recent drop-off in form.
The Italian teenager, who turns 19 in August, made a strong start to his Formula 1 career as he finished in the top six in five of his first six grands prix, but has scored points in just one of the seven races since.
Antonelli showed a flash of the touted brilliance that saw Mercedes fast-track him into one of the sport’s most desirable seats by claiming his maiden podium finish in Canada in June, but a series of errors since then have resulted in a loss of confidence that appeared to be spiralling at the Belgian Grand Prix over the weekend.
After Antonelli had appeared tearful on Saturday evening having been knocked out in Q1 at Spa, Hamilton visited the youngster on Sunday morning and was also seen talking to him during the drivers’ parade and after the race, in which he finished 16th.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Asked bySky Sports F1about his visit to Antonelli, Hamilton said: “I can’t imagine what it’s like at 18 to do what he’s doing. I think he’s been doing fantastically.
“To be thrown in at the deep end at 18. He didn’t even have his driving licence when he first started racing in F1.”
Source: Skysports
