Leo Turini on his hopes for the new Kimi

Among the Formula 2 debutants in 2024 is an Italian driver with a well-known name: his name is Kimi. Andrea Kimi Antonelli is the current European Formula Regional champion, and now the 17-year-old driver, bypassing F3, immediately moves to F2, where he will drive for Prema Racing.

The famous journalist Leo Turini writes in his blog about the hope that people in Italy associate with his fellow countryman: just like Turini, he comes from Emilia-Romagna.

I have been hearing talk about a man from my native country for some time now, and most enthusiastically: we are talking about Kimi Antonelli, who, like me, comes from Emilia-Romagna. He will soon make his debut in Formula 2.

Because Italian drivers have not become champions in Formula 1 since 1953, the highest expectations are attached to this. Moreover, you can even discover some symbolism in this: if after Kimi, who won the title for Ferrari in 2007, a driver named Kimi becomes the new champion, that would be simply ideal.

For seventy years, there has not been a single Italian among the Formula 1 champions. The heirs to Alberto Ascari’s fame were never found, although many claimed: Musso and Bandini, Patrese and Alboreto, Trulli and Fisichella. But it didn’t work.

“Kimi Antonelli will bring Italy back to the Formula 1 starting field. And I hope this will be just the first step,” says Luca Baldisseri, a man who has witnessed an entire era in the history of world motorsport.

He was born in 1962 and during the years when the ‘dream team’ was formed at Ferrari, which achieved fantastic success, he was Michael Schumacher’s racing engineer. He then took charge of the Ferrari Racing Academy and closely followed the early stages of the career of Andrea Chimi Antonelli, who turns 18 in August.

This man always won every championship he entered, first in karting and then in single-seater racing, so he was accepted into the Mercedes youth program. He will make his debut in Formula 2 in 2024.

“This is another opportunity for a young rider to show his talent. Since knowing Kimi, I am convinced that he will be able to take advantage of this opportunity,” says Baldisseri. – The expectations that come with it have every reason, but it is better not to anticipate events, but to move forward gradually.

Looking at the results Kimi showed in the junior categories, you remember Max Verstappen, I have no doubt about that. I remember what Max was like in his youth: I saw him for the first time at a meeting with promising drivers, where I represented Ferrari. Even then, the Dutchman’s speed impressed me… I once joked that Jos Verstappen’s son Lewis Hamilton would soon retire – but this was in 2015 and Hamilton is still competing in Formula 1. What Kimi Antonelli concerns, I prefer to refrain from making predictions, even if I hope for them. But it would be wrong to put too much pressure on him now. The man must grow and develop quietly. He will undergo a good test in Formula 2, after which the time will come for the decisive test in Formula 1.

When a rider reaches this level, he should already be fully prepared. On the one hand I have confidence in Antonelli, on the other hand we have seen more than once that young riders who showed promise lost their way. But with our Kimi it will be different.”

And now a difficult question: I agree, is it paradoxical that an Italian driver, whose talent is so highly valued by experts, has ended up in Mercedes’ youth program? Moreover, Kimi Antonelli was born in the country Emilia-Romagna, where cars of many Italian brands are produced, especially Ferrari…

‘Don’t ask me about this! – Baldisseri replied. – There have been many examples of unpredictable career paths throughout history. But Ferrari has its own youth program, its own Racing Academy, and it would be wrong to judge from the outside.

Now that the team is led by Frederic Vasseur, I fully support him and I also believe in Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, in everyone who works in Ferrari’s racing department. If there isn’t one problem called Max Verstappen.

Every generation has its own symbol: once it was Ayrton Senna, then Michael Schumacher, he was replaced by Lewis Hamilton, and now it is the turn of this Dutchman. “Not only does he drive the fastest car in Formula 1, he is also the best driver.”

Maybe Kimi Antonelli will be next?

“Why not?..”