Ferrari star Lewis Hamilton endured a difficult weekend at the Belgian Grand Prix but still took the time to offer consolation to another of his Formula 1 rivals who was also struggling
Lewis Hamilton offered consolation to teenager Kimi Antonelli who continues to struggle in his debut Formula 1 season. The teenager began the year strongly but, since entering the European portion of the season, has looked a little lost and has struggled for form.
Antonelli has failed to score across any of the six race weekends held in Europe so far this year, and failed to finish four of them. The other two saw the 18-year-old finish 18th in Monaco and, on Sunday, 16th at the end of a torrid Belgian Grand Prix weekend.
Strangely, in the middle of those European races, Antonelli produced his best performance in F1 to date to secure his first podium, finishing third at the Canadian Grand Prix. But at Spa-Francorchamps after qualifying he was close to tears as he lamented his struggles.
“Since the European season, I’ve been struggling to find confidence with the car,” the teenager said. “I feel like I’ve done a backwards step. It’s just a difficult moment for me – I feel like I have no confidence on pushing. Yesterday, I tried to push a bit too much and then I spun, and it kind of hurts the confidence even more.
“We know the limitation we have since quite a lot, but with the way I’m driving, I’m just increasing the problem, and that gives me even less confidence with the car.”
Things did not get any better on Sunday as Antonelli struggled to make progress, having started from the pit lane with new engine components. Not only was he 16th at the end, but he was 14 seconds away from 10th place, the lowest points-paying position.
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In contrast, Hamilton had also started from the pit lane and found much more joy in his Ferrari, speeding up to finish seventh and 46 seconds up the road from the teenager who replaced him at Mercedes. But instead of celebrating his strong performance, the first thing the seven-time F1 champion did was approach Antonelli in parc ferme.
It is not know what was said between them, but Hamilton could be seen offering consolation to the teenager. At 40 years old, the Brit is more than twice Antonelli’s age and is driving for a direct rival team in Ferrari, but has spent time on several occasions offering his wisdom and experience to the struggling young Italian.
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Speaking about the youngster’s struggles after the Belgium race, Hamilton said: “I can’t imagine what it’s like at 18, I can try to imagine what it’s like at 18 to do what he’s been doing. I think he’s been doing fantastic, but to be thrown into the deep end at 18… he didn’t even have his [road] driving licence when he started racing!
“I think it’s a lot on young shoulders, but he’s doing a great job. He’s got a great group of people around him, so I think he’s just got to take it in his stride, which I think he is.
“He’s got Bono [Hamilton’s old Mercedes race engineer Peter Bonnington] by his side – he couldn’t have anyone better.”
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