By the time we’re at the far end of the pit lane, Kimi Antonelli reaches for the kill switch in the AMG GT2. The rough-edged V8 falls quiet, and we glide to a standstill with only a faint squeal from the brakes to break the silence. The door swings open. “Yeah, we had some aquaplaning,” he says, delivering it with the sort of unbothered calm that feels uniquely Italian.
I can vouch for that, because only a few minutes earlier Silverstone had done what Silverstone does: it dragged a proper cloudburst out of a sky that had been mostly blue and empty for the last couple of hours. The slicks were whipped off and replaced with full wets, and any talk of maximum attack instantly turned into a lesson in staying on top of the car.
Whatever we lose in outright corner speed is paid back - and then some - by Antonelli’s knack for finding grip where it looks like there shouldn’t be any. Watching it from this close is almost surreal, because the circuit has effectively become a lake. Yes, there’s multi-stage traction control on board, but he’s wound it back so far that it’s really his right foot doing the decision-making.
Stowe, Vale and Club are demanding when it’s dry; in these conditions they’re close to ridiculous. Wellington Straight isn’t much better - and it’s there that the aquaplaning moment arrives. Do we genuinely risk going off?
We don’t, obviously. Formula 1 drivers have an uncanny talent for removing peril from situations like this. Every steering, throttle and brake input is beautifully judged. Antonelli has the Monaco Grand Prix on the horizon too, so the risk-versus-reward calculation is firmly under control. And, as we’re told, he’ll stroll into F1’s crown-jewel weekend and dominate it so convincingly that even seasoned voices such as Martin Brundle will start making Ayrton Senna comparisons. The youngster plainly has it - and right now he’s making it all look effortless, like it’s what he was built to do. The ability is immense, but the attitude stays grounded.
Antonelli has also put his name to a limited-run AMG GT2 known as the W16, featuring a Push2Pass system good for up to 819 bhp and an integrated DRS set-up. Alongside other major names, Mercedes-AMG has realised there’s serious money in customer race cars - most notably the GT3 Evo, which Verstappen Racing took to near-victory at last month’s Nürburgring 24 Hours.
The GT2 itself isn’t homologated, which means it isn’t boxed in by regulation. For the W16, that brings fresh turbos, revised engine electronics and the boost gadget, plus a six-speed sequential race gearbox, adjustable damping, and four-stage anti-roll bars on both the front and rear axles. Antonelli’s signature is stamped across the door sills. It’s a hugely tempting track-day plaything - and it can be yours for £706k. Today, he’s here to hand the cars over to a garage full of delighted new owners.
“I drove it in Monza, when we first presented the car, before the Grand Prix. It’s very, very cool,” he says. “I gave my feedback and they did some tweaks. To be fair, from the first laps it felt great, you know easy to drive, the perfect car to have fun with on the track. It’s a quick car, with push-to-pass I did 310km/h on the straight at Monza, that’s pretty rapid…”
Top Gear: So that’s four GP wins in a row (now five)…
Kimi Antonelli: I would have taken it if you’d told me at the start of the year. I knew I could have done well, but at the same time it could have been very difficult, because George is very, very quick. But it’s been a great start and the goal is to keep up the momentum, keep maximising the result, keep raising the bar. It’s obviously a massive opportunity and you just want to make the best out of it.
Racking up the wins race after race must mean more confidence, which in turn means more pace, right?
After that first win, it was like cracking the seal - or hitting the point in a video game where a new level opens up. As the confidence grows, you drive with less tension and you’re able to take in the whole weekend properly, not just the laps. When I watch last year’s onboard footage and compare it with this season, the difference is huge - even down to where my hands sit on the wheel. I look far calmer now… it’s a massive shift. And it feels brilliant.
Because the car is clearly better this year, too?
Having a fast car helps, no question, but so does an extra year of learning. You arrive knowing what’s coming. You feel more on top of what’s happening, you understand your own ceiling better, you know the team more deeply, and you learn how to spend your energy across a weekend. I understand myself much more now - what I need, what I don’t - and how to manage myself over a race weekend so that whenever I’m in the car I’m always at 100 per cent.
You’re still so young. Is the 19-year old battling the F1 driver?
First thing, I try to stay myself - even at the circuit. I try to bring good energy into the team, and I bring a lot of my Italian side into it too, trying to enjoy the time with everyone as much as I can. That includes building a strong connection with the mechanics and engineers. That matters for creating a really healthy dynamic in the team, and it helps you as a driver to enjoy the weekend beyond just driving.
Do you ever lose your temper?
Yes. But it happens in the car, not out of it. I try not to show too much externally when I’m frustrated or angry - I try to keep it in. I want the energy to stay positive, and I don’t want to put too much negativity out there when things go wrong. [pause] It’s not like I’m always happy and everything. I do get pissed off.
Does your father get on your case?
[laughs] He’s a lot calmer now. He still gives me a bit of a kicking sometimes. But it’s the good kind - constructive.
You really do seem to have an advanced emotional maturity for someone of your age.
Well, I’ve got a strong team around me and a great family. My dad raced too, he runs his own team, and he’s been involved in motorsport for more than 30 years. He makes sure I stay grounded, that I keep my attention on the main objective, and that I don’t get carried away by distractions from outside. I’ve been with Mercedes since 2018, so I’ve grown up with them.
Are you treated like a rock star in Italy now? Do you need bodyguards?
It’s fine. I still go out. Obviously I get stopped a lot more now, but I don’t see that as a negative. Sometimes you do just want to be on your own, but I’ve moved to San Marino and I’ve got my own space there now, so I can switch off and…
Leave the dirty dishes in the sink?
No, no, I still have to do my chores.
Do you know where the washing machine is?
Yeah, yeah. But I had to learn. The first time I used the washing machine I made a bit of a mess because I mixed the wrong colours.
We’ve all been there, Kimi, don’t worry.
But now I learned my lesson… I still go back to Bologna to see my friends and go out for dinner. I do get stopped, but if people are respectful, it’s nice. I actually enjoy it.
You own a Mercedes-AMG GT, but is there anything you’re really after?
My dream car is a Project One. It’s a big step, and I’d love to try one. I need to win a few world championships before being able to get it, but I love cars in general. I always have.
What car pictures did you have on your bedroom wall?
To be honest, I had a photo of Ayrton Senna, and I also had pictures of Gilles Villeneuve. My dad was a huge fan of him. We’ve got that famous shot of him with loads of opposite lock at home. I’ve watched footage of the race where he crashed and kept going on three wheels [Dutch GP, 1979]. And also the battle with Arnoux [French GP, 1979]… two drivers going at it completely flat-out. I’d love to try some older cars - something with a V12 or V10.
How complicated are this year’s cars to drive?
It’s really interesting. The technology has moved on massively; the cars are unbelievably quick and unbelievably fast, and at the same time they’re very complex. That’s why you need so many people both at the track and back at the factory to build them and keep developing them. The standard now is just so high.
I'd love to try some older cars, something with a V12 or V10
How do you like your car set up?
It’s always about chasing the right balance, but I’d rather have a car that rotates than one that just understeers. After that, it depends on the circuit. In Monaco you want it to rotate nicely because it’s low speed, whereas at Silverstone you want something a bit steadier so you can bring more speed into the corners. You’re looking for as much front-end potential as possible without giving away too much at the rear. But there are tracks where you drive with more oversteer, and tracks where you go the other way a little.
Now we’re into the European phase of the championship. How does that feel?
People say, ‘Europe was bad last year’ and things like that. But I know what I’m capable of, so we’ll see. Hopefully we can do a really strong job up to the summer break, then carry on from wherever we leave off.
Onto the really important stuff – is your grandma’s cooking the best in Italy?
Yes.
But isn’t every Italian grandma’s cooking the best, though?
Yeah, I guess. But not as good as mine. My mum’s mother. She’s from Veneto, but moved to Emilia Romagna. Her signature dish is gramigna with salsiccia [that’s a curvy pasta with sausage], and also a tagliatelle al ragù. My aunt, my mum’s sister, works in a pasta shop. They make fresh pasta – tagliatelle and tortellini – and it’s amazing. That’s in Bologna. In winter, I like it so much. Too much, in fact.
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