Lewis Hamilton’s telling approach to struggling F1 | Sports News

Lewis Hamilton offered consolation to teenager Kimi Antonelli, who continues to face challenges in his inaugural Formula 1 season.

The younger driver began the yr on a high be aware however has appeared considerably overwhelmed because the European leg of the season started, battling inconsistent efficiency. Antonelli has been unable to earn factors in any of the six European race weekends this yr, failing to cross the end line in 4 of these occasions.

The remaining two races noticed the 18-year-old place 18th in Monaco and, this previous Sunday, sixteenth following a troublesome Belgian Grand Prix weekend. Hamilton additionally struggled in Belgium, with one analyst questioning his relationship with a Ferrari engineer.

Remarkably, amid these European struggles, Antonelli delivered his best F1 exhibiting to date by claiming his inaugural podium with a third-place end on the Canadian Grand Prix. However, at Spa-Francorchamps following qualifying, he was visibly emotional whereas discussing his difficulties.

“Since the European season, I’ve been struggling to find confidence with the car,” {the teenager} stated. “I feel like I’ve done a backwards step. It’s just a difficult moment for me – I feel like I have no confidence on pushing. Yesterday, I tried to push a bit too much and then I spun, and it kind of hurts the confidence even more.

“We know the limitation we’ve since fairly a lot, however with the way in which I’m driving, I’m simply growing the issue, and that offers me even much less confidence with the car.”

Sunday brought no improvement for Antonelli as he struggled to advance, having begun from the pit lane with fresh engine components. He not only finished 16th, but found himself 14 seconds behind 10th place, the final points-scoring position.

By comparison, Hamilton had also launched from the pit lane but experienced far greater success in his Ferrari, charging through to claim seventh place and finishing 46 seconds ahead of the teenager who took his spot at Mercedes. Rather than savoring his impressive drive, the seven-time F1 champion’s first action was to seek out Antonelli.

The conversation between them remains private, but Hamilton was observed providing comfort to the young driver. At 40 years old, the British veteran is more than double Antonelli’s age and represents a competing Ferrari team, yet has repeatedly taken time to share his knowledge and experience with the struggling young Italian.

Discussing the youngster’s difficulties following the Belgium race, Hamilton remarked: “I can not think about what it is like at 18, I can attempt to think about what it is like at 18 to do what he is been doing. I feel he is been doing implausible, however to be thrown into the deep finish at 18… he did not even have his [road] driving licence when he began racing!

“I think it’s a lot on young shoulders, but he’s doing a great job. He’s got a great group of people around him, so I think he’s just got to take it in his stride, which I think he is. He’s got Bono [Hamilton’s old Mercedes race engineer Peter Bonnington] by his side – he couldn’t have anyone better.”