Andrea Kimi Antonelli says text messages from Sebastian Vettel makes a difference to him in race weekends, after the former F1 champion’s wish to see him become champion.
For the special Michael Schumacher tribute, four-time F1 champion Vettel visited Monza during the Italian GP weekend. As is the norm, the German takes time to see almost everyone in the paddock, which was evident from the photos from various teams and drivers.
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Vettel made the ultimate tribute by driving Schumacher’s F2002, getting all emotional after a few laps in the car. When discussing about the 2026 F1 championship, the German was of full praise of Mercedes‘ Antonelli, who has an 81 points lead in the drivers’ championship from George Russell.
Vettel wants Antonelli to win the F1 drivers’ title certainly. “I’d be very happy for him,” he said in Monza. “He had an incredible year. There’s the old phrase that records are there to be broken. He still has a lot of years ahead of him to do so.
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“I love the sport, so as a spectator it’s very exciting. I’d wish for the others to come back and be more in the mix. I’m independent and happy for [him] because I know how much work there is behind it to achieve it, and whoever will win will deserve it as well,” summed up Vettel.
The word of encouragement is certainly a boost for Antonelli. In fact, the Italian revealed sharing text messages with Vettel often, whether before or after F1 races. The Mercedes driver thinks it is of great help and does make a difference to his race weekends.
Formel 1 – Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, Großer Preis von Spanien 2026. Kimi Antonelli
Formula One – Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, 2026 Spanish GP. Kimi Antonelli
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As such, Vettel remains in touch with several drivers but to be with someone like Antonelli, who came along years after he left F1, shows how much the sport and the drivers means to the German still. “Yeah, of course it’s great,” said the Italian. “I mean, Seb is incredible and he’s a friend of mine, always sends some messages after every race weekend or even before some of them.
“So, it’s great to see so much support from him and so much appreciation as well. So, definitely, I’m very happy to get his messages and, for sure, they make a little difference in going into the weekend or even after,” summed up Antonelli.
