Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli has revealed how three-time F1 drivers’ champion Ayrton Senna came to be his racing hero.
Despite the Brazilian sadly succumbing to the injuries he sustained in the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix over 12 years before Antonelli was born, the 18-year-old explained that Senna “stood out” to him when he was learning about F1 through season reviews on DVD.
The 41-time grand prix winner is widely regarded as one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time. By losing his life at the peak of his powers, it will never be known what he ultimately could have achieved in the championship.
His untimely death has also added to his legend, and he will long be considered perhaps the most iconic racing driver.
“I always got really passionate when I saw videos of [Ayrton] Senna,” Antonelli said. “Growing up I would watch all the DVDs of the seasons from the 1980s to the 2000s, and in one of them, I remember watching Ayrton and it really stood out.
“I know I was not lucky enough to watch him race, but when I watched all these videos I started to realise all these incredible races he has done.”
Emulating the achievements of Senna
The Italian driver is the most highly-touted rookie to break into F1 since Max Verstappen a decade ago and arguably has the heaviest expectations placed upon him of any of the six drivers embarking on their debut campaigns this year.
With so much anticipation surrounding his arrival in F1, Antonelli insists he would be happy to emulate just a fraction of what Senna achieved over his decade racing in the championship.
“I watched the documentary and the recent series too [both called Senna],” the Mercedes driver continued. “He is my idol because of who he was off the track as well as on it. An incredible driver, but a great person too.
“That inspired me, and to achieve even a little part of what he did in my career would be so cool.”
