F1 News
Antonelli says this "really special" driver is his idol and role model
Andrea Kimi Antonelli may not have been old enough to watch the great Ayrton Senna race in Formula 1, but for the young Italian, the "really special" Brazilian driver is his idol. The 18-year-old, who will replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes next year, is one of many drivers who see Senna as their role model, including his predecessor.
Senna's legacy in the world of F1 is one that will live on for many years to come, arguably one of the greatest races ever to take to the track. His career was cut short after his tragic accident at Imola in 1994. However, the three-time world champion left his mark on the track with those titles, and his charity work off the track has continued to grow despite his passing, highlighting his influence.
Since then, many drivers have said their careers have been influenced by Senna being their idol, and despite being born after the death of Senna, Antonelli still sees the Brazilian as his role model.
Antonelli influenced by "special" Senna
While in conversation with the official Formula 2 website, Antonelli explained what made Senna become his idol in the world of motorsport: "I didn’t get to see him racing with my own eyes during my life, but I’ve seen videos and through that, I could understand how special he was. That’s why he’s my role model. He always got the best out of what he was doing, trying to learn as much as possible so through those videos, he’s become my inspiration."
Antonelli lists iconic races by Senna, including races like Donington in 1993, a race at Jerez where the Brazilian took a commanding pole position, and his famous laps in Monaco while battling Nigel Mansell: "He was really very special. He’s not only a good driver but also a person. He was a really empathetic person. My dream is to reach F1 and to achieve a little part of what he achieved during his career," concluded the Italian.
This article was created in collaboration with Ludo van Denderen
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