How Did the 2006-born F1 Rookie Rise to Schumacher’s Level? [Kwon Ma-heo’s Helmet]

\r\n\r\n[Financial News]The 2006-born rookie, Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes-Benz, has done it again.At the fourth round, the Miami Grand Prix, he completed a pole-to-win, finishing first in both qualifying and the race, proving once again that his results this season are not simply down to luck.After four rounds, he has collected exactly 100 championship points, putting him 20 points ahead of second-place George Russell of Mercedes-Benz.After the win, he also showed a more human side backstage, saying, "It was so hot and humid on the hard tires, and there were still 20 laps left, so I just wanted the race to end quickly."In this episode of Kwon Ma-heo’s Helmet, we will focus on Antonelli.\r\n\r\n\r2-1-1-1.That is Antonelli’s result this season in "The Race."Across the four rounds in Australia, China, Japan, and the United States, he has reached the podium every time without any major drop in performance, making this a truly "best start."One thing that stands out is that his qualifying position has carried over directly into the race.Through four rounds, Antonelli’s qualifying results have matched his race results: 2-1-1-1. In a competition with 22 cars and many variables such as engines and chassis, having qualifying positions carry over into race results for four straight races is unusual.It is especially encouraging that he held onto first place after a short break of about a month following the United States-Iran war.That is because McLaren, Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes-Benz’s other rivals unveiled major upgrades during that period.At Red Bull, where Max Verstappen drives, many parts were replaced, including the front wing, brake ducts, floor, sidepods, and engine cover.Thanks to that, Verstappen, who had dropped to 16th after an early mistake, was able to climb back to fifth by the end. Of course, Charles Leclerc’s wheel lock-up at the end also helped.
By contrast, Mercedes-Benz preserved Antonelli’s position with only minor changes to the front brake ducts and exhaust system. That is also proof that the team prepared better than anyone else for this season.
\r\n\r\n\rThe area where Antonelli has improved the most this season is judgment.Of course, Mercedes-Benz sets the overall race strategy, but Antonelli’s sharp decisions in the moment have stood out.The key moment that decided Round 4 came on laps 27 and 28. Right after Antonelli made his pit stop on lap 27, Lando Norris of McLaren also came in for new tires. Norris then made a small mistake, and Antonelli seized the opportunity and pushed hard. As a result, Antonelli was right behind Norris when he exited the pit lane. Norris still lacked tire temperature and speed, and Antonelli immediately overtook him by using the slipstream, a technique that increases speed by taking advantage of airflow between cars. He then maintained the gap and took the lead. There was a risk of tire wear and battery depletion, but he kept the pace up, and that brief decision ended up shaping the entire race. What is remarkable is that this is only Antonelli’s second season in F1. So far, only two drivers have managed three consecutive pole positions: Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna. Antonelli called it "a great statistic," but added that he did not want to think too deeply about it, showing his humility. He also said, "I’ll just enjoy the moment."
\r\n\r\n\rOf course, there are still areas that need improvement.Antonelli also struggled at the start in Round 4, and that is why he finished sixth in the earlier sprint race.Antonelli is aware of the problem. He said, "This race was not bad, but there are definitely things I need to improve," and added, "When the gaps are this small, as they were this weekend, the flow of the race can change completely."
That is not entirely wrong. If he had looked overwhelming in the first three rounds, the fourth round saw rival teams close the gap significantly.
Without Antonelli’s own judgment, he might have lost first place to Norris. In fact, Norris and Oscar Piastri of McLaren finished 1-2 in the Miami Grand Prix sprint and then took second and third in the main race, putting pressure on Mercedes-Benz. Meanwhile, his teammate Russell was pushed down to fourth in both the sprint and the main race.He has been causing a stir with three straight wins, but that does not mean it is over yet.Come to think of it, the situation is similar to a year ago.Last year, Piastri led Norris by 34 points until September, but he still failed to win the championship. Antonelli’s lead is only 20 points, so he cannot afford to relax.
\r\n\r"I still cannot approach races consistently with full confidence. I have some anxiety on track, and I think that is a major area I need to improve."That is likely why Antonelli said this in an interview after taking first place. Still, whatever the case, the result cannot be denied.If McLaren was the star last season, Mercedes-Benz — and Antonelli in particular — is the star so far this year. We will be cheering for Antonelli’s strong run until the end of the season.The fifth round heads to Canada. Can Antonelli keep up his momentum there as well? Can Russell, who was considered one of this year’s title contenders, beat Antonelli and take pole position? The next race cannot come soon enough. All feedback is welcome. Please let us know anytime if anything is inaccurate!kjh0109@fnnews.com Kwon Jun-ho Reporter