Ricciardo sees Antonelli’s youth as an advantage in F1 title fight

Daniel Ricciardo sees Kimi Antonelli’s youth as an advantage just as the Mercedes driver closes on his first Formula 1 title. On the Beyond The Grid podcast, Ricciardo called being young a “superpower” and clarified that his use of “ignorance” meant youth, not an insult.

Ricciardo said Antonelli is already fast and talented but has not yet accumulated the baggage that can build with time in the sport. In Ricciardo’s view, the 20-year-old is at a “sweet spot” where he can simply go out and race.

Ricciardo drew on his own start in Formula 1. In his first season with Red Bull’s senior team, in 2014, he recalled feeling young and naive, with victories seeming to come easily. He took all three of Red Bull’s wins that year as Sebastian Vettel’s team-mate.

Ricciardo said he began to question his decisions as the years passed, including his 2018 choice to leave Red Bull. By the end, he said, he had to dig deep to find something that once came easily.

After winning the United States GP, Antonelli said he would keep the same mindset, enjoy the rest of the season and try to fight for another victory. He has nine wins in his second F1 season. A ninth-place finish or better at Sunday’s Mexican GP would clinch his first title; he would also be champion if neither George Russell nor Lewis Hamilton wins. At 20, Antonelli would become F1’s youngest-ever champion.