Hamilton congratulates Antonelli after Monaco Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton extended his congratulations to Kimi Antonelli and the Mercedes team following his second-place finish at the Monaco Grand Prix, reports BritPanorama.
The Ferrari driver expressed fondness for his former team, referring to them as “my old family” after witnessing Antonelli secure yet another dominant victory.
“I have to start by congratulating Kimi and to the Mercedes team, my old family, they’ve done it again, they’ve created an amazing car,” Hamilton remarked. He also highlighted Antonelli’s impressive consistency throughout the season.
The seven-time world champion acknowledged that while Ferrari has made significant progress, they still lag behind Mercedes in performance. “On our side, I think we’ve been progressing over the past months, and can’t quite keep up with them just yet,” Hamilton noted. Despite this, he expressed pleasure with his performance in Monaco, stating, “To get another second place is such a great feeling, especially in Monaco under the trickiest conditions!”
Antonelli’s victory marked his fifth consecutive win, demonstrating a commanding showing on Formula One’s most iconic circuit. The 19-year-old had a lead exceeding 20 seconds before a late Safety Car and subsequent red flag disrupted the race due to crashes involving Lance Stroll and Charles Leclerc.
After the race resumed for the final eight laps, Antonelli, starting from pole, easily maintained his position to clinch his first win in Monaco. The result has significant implications for the championship standings, with Hamilton moving ahead of George Russell into second place, now trailing Antonelli by 66 points after six races.
Russell’s performance was hampered by a drive-through penalty, resulting in him finishing outside the points. Antonelli reflected positively on his weekend, describing both the race and the performance of his car as “incredible.” “The car was feeling incredible and giving me the confidence to push. It was a very enjoyable day,” he said, before discussing his thoughts on the late restart: “Once I got away, I knew I would make it into the first corner and from that moment I enjoyed the last few laps.”
As the teams head into the next stage of the season, Hamilton’s competitive spirit shines through, even as he acknowledges the challenges ahead. In this ever-evolving season, every race serves as a reminder of the sport’s unpredictability and the fierce rivalry it fosters.
