Antonelli: Ayrton Senna is my idol and inspiration

The young Italian from Bologna proved his talent with exceptional performances in the junior classes, as part of the Mercedes junior drivers squad, hence Antonelli's promotion to Formula 1 was a no-brainer, in the end despite the availability of experienced drivers including highly rated Carlos Sainz.

The hype surrounding his signing has toned down, but Antonelli hasn't yet fully digested the fact that he will be able to compete against the big names in Formula 1 next year, the 18-year-old told Gazzetta dello Sport: "I haven't realised it yet. Maybe it will happen in Melbourne next year. It will be very exciting.

"Right now I'm just thinking about how I can improve myself. I'm trying to concentrate fully on my task; I'm trying to imagine different situations. I'll certainly be nervous, but I'll still try to concentrate on my job," explained Antonelli.

Asked whether Formula 1 drivers can be friends off the track, the 2025 F1 rookie believes it's possible, he replied: "On the track, you can't show any consideration, and you can't ask anyone for a favour. Everyone fights for themselves."

Filling the shoes of Ferrari-bound, living legend seven-time F1 Worlds Champion Hamilton at Mercedes is a big deal, and Antonelli knows it: “It’s not possible to replace Lewis Hamilton. He’s such a great figure in the sport of today, and he has achieved so much in his career, so I don’t want to be seen as his replacement. I’m just the next driver for Mercedes in 2025, so I’m really excited for that.”

Of the reigning F1 world champion, Max Verstappen, Antonelli said, "I've spoken to him a few times, and he's a great person; I like him a lot. I've also competed against him in the simulator, and he follows the action in the junior classes closely. On the track, he's considered very tough, but off the track he's very relaxed and normal."

But teenager Antonelli has one big hero: “Ayrton Senna is my idol. I didn’t get to see him race live, but watching him drive through old footage, I could see how special he was. He always got the best out of everything he did. Through those videos, he’s become my inspiration.

“Senna wasn’t just a great driver but also a genuinely compassionate person. It’s my dream to achieve even a fraction of what he accomplished in F1," concluded Antonelli.