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🇩🇪 Germany /Sports

Formula One: “Like an AI agent”: Antonelli’s victory a decisive turn in the title race?

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire From a news agency Outcome reported
  • Kimi Antonelli won in Monza after starting 19th, prompting comparisons with Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher.
  • Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff called the 20-year-old “like an AI agent” who continually improves, while Italian media celebrated one of Formula One’s most unforgettable victories.
  • Lewis Hamilton finished sixth and criticized Ferrari’s strategy, saying it was too late to change course in the title fight.

Kimi Antonelli’s victory at Monza has left the Formula One paddock reaching for its biggest comparisons. The 20-year-old Mercedes driver started from 19th after an unauthorized engine change, then fought through the field to win in front of the Italian fans.

He is like an AI agent who continuously improves and learns.

· Toto WolffThe Mercedes team principal praised Antonelli’s performance and development after his Monza victory.

After the race, team principal Toto Wolff said Antonelli had “walked on water” and described him as “like an AI agent who continuously improves and learns.” Wolff had already compared his driver with Ayrton Senna before the race. Former world champion Nico Rosberg offered another historic comparison, telling Sky: “He drove like Michael Schumacher. Everything was perfect, truly phenomenal, and that in his second year of Formula One.”

Antonelli was carried by fans after the race, covered in sweat and champagne. He said, “I’m still shaking, it’s incredible.” La Gazzetta dello Sport called the result “one of the most unforgettable victories in the history of Formula One.” Only John Watson, who won from 22nd place in the United States in 1983, had overtaken more drivers in a Grand Prix victory.

He drove like Michael Schumacher. Everything was perfect, truly phenomenal, and that in his second year of Formula One.

· Nico RosbergThe former world champion compared Antonelli’s comeback victory with Michael Schumacher’s driving.

The result also deepened Ferrari’s frustration. Lewis Hamilton had hoped the race in Ferrari’s home country could revive his title challenge, but finished sixth and now trails the championship leader by 76 points. A tough early battle with teammate Charles Leclerc hurt his race, while Ferrari’s new power unit failed to produce the expected impact.

I’m still shaking, it’s incredible.

· Kimi AntonelliAntonelli described his reaction after winning the Monza race.

Hamilton again questioned the team’s strategy, saying, “We keep getting the same result again and again. We need to change something, because this is not moving us forward.” He added that it was “far too late” for the decisions needed in the title fight. Mercedes driver George Russell, who also failed to capitalize on Antonelli’s starting-place penalty, has likewise lost faith in his own title chances.

We keep getting the same result again and again. We need to change something, because this is not moving us forward.

· Lewis HamiltonHamilton criticized Ferrari’s strategy after finishing sixth at Monza.
About this summary

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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