Lewis Hamilton and Andrea Kimi Antonelli in Belgium

Hamilton charges ahead in defense of 'in crisis' F1 succesor

12:33, 31 Jul

Updated: 14:07, 31 Jul

byNorberto Mujica

Andrea Kimi Antonelli has endured a rather dramatic recent run of races marred by DNF's and poor qualifying performances: but the Italian rookie is not alone. The man he replaced at Mercedes stands by him.

After his maiden podium in F1 Antonelli has been unable to grab the bull by the horns again. Always qualifying behind teammate George Russell and failing to complete a Grand Prix since, save for the pointless outing in Belgium where he fell out of both Q1 sessions for the Sprint race and the Grand Prix.

During the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, Sky Sports analyst, Martin Brundle, signalled that the Italian was going through a crisis.

The sight of a distraught Antonelli marked a sad scene after the race in Spa-Francorchamps. Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Hamilton sympathised with the Mercedes rookie.

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"I can't imagine what it's like at 18 to do what he's doing," the 7-time world champion said.

In a stern vote of confidence in the respects of his Mercedes successor Hamilton was unequivocal in his perspective of Antonelli's current woes.

"I think he's been doing fantastically. To be thrown in at the deep end at 18. He didn't even have his driving licence when he first started racing in F1," he added to put the situation in a raw and real context.

"It's a lot on someone's shoulders. I think he's doing a great job."

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Taking up for Hamilton's stead at Mercedes, Antonelli was also absorbed into the team that the Briton was so successful with during his tenure at the German team. Something which is not at all lost on the now Ferrari driver.

"He (Antonelli, ed.), has got a great group of people around him."

"You just have to take it in your stride, which I think he is, and he's got Bono beside him, so he couldn't have anyone better," Hamilton concluded.