Kimi Antonelli's victory in the Miami Grand Prix, his third consecutive win, has been hailed as "something special" by 1996 Formula 1 world champion Damon Hill. The 19-year-old Italian dominated the race, further solidifying his status as a rising star.
"We witnessed this young boy showing us what enormous potential he clearly has, and I'm almost stunned with how he has coped this season," Hill told BBC Radio 5 Live.
Antonelli's win also marked another milestone: he joins Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher as the only drivers to secure their first three pole positions consecutively. Additionally, he matches Hill and Mika Hakkinen as the first drivers to win their first three races.
Despite a slow start in Miami, Antonelli kept his cool, fought back, and overtook McLaren's Lando Norris during the pit stop period. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff praised Antonelli's composure, noting his ability to compartmentalize mistakes and stay focused.
Meanwhile, teammate George Russell, who started the season as a championship favorite, now trails Antonelli by 20 points. Russell acknowledged Antonelli's strong form but remained optimistic about the remaining 18 races. Hill, however, urged Russell to adapt to all circuits.
Wolff emphasized the importance of keeping Antonelli grounded, crediting his parents and the team for managing expectations. "The risk is that he's being carried away too quickly," Wolff said. "We want to play the long game."