Andrea Kimi Antonelli has praised Lewis Hamilton for an uplifting chat amid what was a difficult Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix for the Mercedes rookie.
Antonelli suffered a nightmarish weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, which began with a spin in qualifying for the Sprint Race, seeing him dumped out of SQ1.
The Sprint itself did not fare much better, finishing in 17th, and later qualifying 18th for the Grand Prix, in which he finished 16th.
Antonelli had already discussed his lack of form, which was also partially blamed on the lack of driveability of the W16 by team-mate George Russell.
The 18-year-old later revealed that he was approached after qualifying by Hamilton, the man he replaced at the German marque, who gave him words of encouragement.
“He came to say hi to the team, and definitely we had a couple of words,” Antonelli told media including Motorsport Week.
“He was telling me to keep my head up and that it’s normal to have bad weekends. And just to keep believing. It was really nice.”
Hamilton advises Antonelli to ‘take it in his stride’
Antonelli enjoyed a bright start to the season, scoring a pole position for the Miami Sprint Race, and then achieved his maiden podium in Canada.
For one reason or another, there has been a myriad of struggles throughout the European season, but Hamilton praised how his successor has handled his setbacks.
“I can’t imagine what it’s like at 18 – or try to imagine what it’s like at 18 – to do what he’s doing,” Hamilton said via Sky Sports F1.
“He’s been doing fantastic. But to be thrown in at the deep end at 18… he hadn’t even had his driving licence when he first started racing.
“I think it’s a lot on someone’s shoulders. He’s doing a great job and he’s got a great group of people around him.
“So, I think you’ve just got to take it in your stride, which I think he is.
“And he’s got Bono [race engineer Peter Bonnington, who formerly worked with Hamilton] by his side. He doesn’t have anyone better.”
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