Kimi Antonelli: consecutive wins 'like unlocking a new level in a computer game'

As we reach the end of the pit lane, Kimi Antonelli hits the kill switch on the AMG GT2. Gruff, grumbly V8 now extinguished, the car rolls silently to a halt bar some brake squeal. The door opens. “Yeah, we had some aquaplaning,” the driver says, with whatever the Italian equivalent of supreme nonchalance is. Impassibile, that’s the word.

Actually, I can confirm this. Three minutes before we headed onto the track, Silverstone did its inimitable thing and summoned a torrential downpour out of a sky that had been largely blue and cloudless for the previous two hours. Slick rubber was switched for full wets, and the promise of maximum attack morphed into an adventure in car control.

What we sacrifice in cornering speeds is more than compensated by Kimi’s ability to determine grip where there is seemingly none. It’s magical to observe up close, for Silverstone has basically turned into a lake. Sure, the car has a multi-stage traction control system, but he has that dialled back so far that it’s his right foot that’s calling the shots.

Stowe, Vale and Club are tricky enough in the dry, but borderline absurd now. As is Wellington straight, which is where the aquaplaning event occurs… Might we actually fall off?

Of course we don’t. F1 drivers have a way of excising all danger in moments like this. The inputs are sublimely measured. Kimi also has the Monaco GP coming up, so the risk/benefit analysis is comfortably in hand. As we know, he’ll dominate F1’s crown jewel event in a manner that has even sage F1 experts like Martin Brundle drawing parallels with Ayrton Senna. The kid is clearly overflowing with the right stuff. And right now he’s just breezing through it all, like he was born to do it. The talent is sky high, but the feet are on the ground.

Kimi has also just lent his name to a limited edition of the AMG GT2, called the W16, which has a Push2Pass function for up to 819bhp and integrated DRS. Like other big names, Mercedes-AMG has discovered there’s excellent business in customer racing cars, most famously the GT3 Evo campaigned by Verstappen Racing to near victory at the Nürburgring 24 Hours last month.

The GT2, though, is not homologated so it’s unconstrained by any regulatory requirements. The W16 gets new turbos and engine electronics, as well as that boost gizmo, a six-speed sequential race transmission, adjustable damping, and four-stage stabilisers on the front and rear axle. Kimi’s autograph is emblazoned on the door sills. It’s an exceptionally desirable track day toy, and yours for £706k. The man himself is here to do the handover to a garageful of lucky new owners.

“I drove it in Monza, when we first presented the car, before the Grand Prix. It’s very, very cool,” he says. “I gave my feedback and they did some tweaks. To be fair, from the first laps it felt great, you know easy to drive, the perfect car to have fun with on the track. It’s a quick car, with push-to-pass I did 310km/h on the straight at Monza, that’s pretty rapid…”

Top Gear: So that’s four GP wins in a row (now five)…

Kimi Antonelli: I would have taken it if you’d told me at the start of the year. I knew I could have done well, but at the same time it could have been very difficult, because George is very, very quick. But it’s been a great start and the goal is to keep up the momentum, keep maximising the result, keep raising the bar. It’s obviously a massive opportunity and you just want to make the best out of it.

Racking up the wins race after race must mean more confidence, which in turn means more pace, right?

After the first win it felt like breaking the ice. Or like when you unlock a new level in a computer game. With more confidence you drive more freely, you’re able to enjoy the whole experience across the weekend more fully. When I look at the on-boards from last year and compare them to this year, I see a massive difference, just in where my hands are on the wheel, I look much more relaxed now… it’s a big difference. And a great feeling.

Because the car is clearly better this year, too?

The fact that the car is quick definitely helps, but also having a year of experience. You know much more what to expect. You’re more in control of the situation, you’re more aware of your potential, you know the team better, and how to manage your energy during the weekend. I know myself much better now, what I need, what I don’t need, and how to manage myself during the race weekend in order to always be 100 per cent when I’m in the car.

You’re still so young. Is the 19-year old battling the F1 driver?

I try to be myself, first of all, even at the track. I try to bring a lot of good energy to the team, I bring a lot of my Italian side into the team, try to enjoy the time with the team as much as possible. Also in terms of creating a good bond with the mechanics and the engineers. That’s important when it comes to creating a really good dynamic inside the team, and it allows you, as the driver, to enjoy the weekend even more, not only when it comes to driving the car.

Do you ever lose your temper?

Yes. In the car, though, not outside. I try not to show too much on the outside when I get annoyed or angry, I try to keep it to myself. I want to keep the energy positive, I don’t want to show too much negativity in the bad moments. [pause] It’s not like I’m always happy and everything. I do get pissed off.

Does your father get on your case?

[laughs] Now he’s much more composed. He does still kick my butt a little bit at times. But he does it in a good way, in a constructive way.

You really do seem to have an advanced emotional maturity for someone of your age.

Well, I have a great team behind me, and a great family. My dad was a racer himself, he’s running his own racing team, he’s been in the sport for more than 30 years. He always makes sure I’m grounded, that I keep my focus on the ultimate goal and that I don’t get carried away with external distractions. I’ve been with Mercedes since 2018, so I’ve grown up with them.

Are you treated like a rock star in Italy now? Do you need bodyguards?

It’s OK. I still get out. Of course I get stopped much more often now, but I don’t see it as a bad thing. There are times when you just want to be alone, but I’ve just moved to San Marino and I’ve got my own space now, so I can relax and…

Leave the dirty dishes in the sink?

No, no, I still have to do my chores.

Do you know where the washing machine is?

Yeah, yeah. But I had to learn. The first time I used the washing machine I did a little bit of a disaster because I mixed the wrong colours.

We’ve all been there, Kimi, don’t worry.

But now I learned my lesson… I still go back to Bologna to see my friends, and go for dinner. I do get stopped but as long as people are respectful, it’s nice. I actually enjoy it.

You own a Mercedes-AMG GT, but is there anything you’re really after?

My dream car is a Project One. It’s a big step, and I’d love to try one. I need to win a few world championships before being able to get it, but I love cars in general. I always have.

What car pictures did you have on your bedroom wall?

Actually I had a picture of Ayrton Senna, and also some pictures of Gilles Villeneuve. My dad was a massive fan of his. We have that famous picture of him on full opposite lock in the house. I’ve watched footage of him in the race where he crashed and was driving the car on three wheels [Dutch GP, 1979]. Also the battle with Arnoux [French GP, 1979]… two drivers battling each other full-on. I’d love to try some older cars, something with a V12 or V10 engine.

How complicated are this year’s cars to drive?

It’s fascinating. The technology has taken a massive step on, the cars are incredibly quick and incredibly fast, and very complicated at the same time. That’s why we have so many people at the track and the factory building it and developing it. The level is just so high nowadays.

I'd love to try some older cars, something with a V12 or V10

How do you like your car set up?

Well obviously it’s about trying to find the right balance, but I prefer a car that rotates rather than an understeery one. Then it depends on the track. At Monaco you want a car that rotates well because it’s lower speed, but at a track like Silverstone you want something a bit more stable, so you can carry more speed into the corners. You want as much front potential as possible without compromising the rear too much. But there are tracks where you drive the car with more oversteer, and tracks where you go a bit the other way.

Now we’re into the European phase of the championship. How does that feel?

People say, ‘Europe was bad last year’ and stuff like that. But I know what I can do, so let’s wait and see. Hopefully we can do really well until the summer break, then pick up from where we finish off.

Onto the really important stuff – is your grandma’s cooking the best in Italy?

Yes.

But isn’t every Italian grandma’s cooking the best, though?

Yeah, I guess. But not as good as mine. My mum’s mother. She’s from Veneto, but moved to Emilia Romagna. Her signature dish is gramigna with salsiccia [that’s a curvy pasta with sausage], and also a tagliatelle al ragù. My aunt, my mum’s sister, works in a pasta shop. They make fresh pasta – tagliatelle and tortellini – and it’s amazing. That’s in Bologna. In winter, I like it so much. Too much, in fact.