Lewis Hamilton informed Kimi Antonelli he can “at all times lean” on the Ferrari driver throughout a supportive chat finally weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.
Antonelli revealed seven-time world champion Hamilton had paid him a go to in Mercedes’ hospitality to help the 18-year-old Italian throughout a nightmare weekend at Spa-Francorchamps.
The Mercedes rookie’s brutal run of poor kind continued in Belgium, the place he and was eradicated within the first a part of qualifying for each the dash race and grand prix, earlier than happening to complete seventeenth and sixteenth within the two occasions.
Talking forward of the Hungarian Grand Prix, Hamilton opened up on the help and recommendation he had supplied to the teenager who changed him at Mercedes following his bombshell change to Ferrari.
“I imply I at all times let him know that I am there,” Hamilton informed Crash.web and different media in Hungary on Thursday.
“I believe it is at all times essential to let individuals know they are not alone, so I allow them to know that. I strive to not encroach, like get in the best way or something like that, however simply allow them to know you can at all times lean on me when you have any wants.
“He is already bought an incredible group of individuals round him, and he is 18. I imply, I wasn’t prepared at 18. He clearly is, as a result of he is carried out an important job this yr, notably the primary half of the yr, the best way he is jumped in, and I have been behind him a number of occasions, however he is clearly bought the flexibility, and it is nearly expertise.
“It’s totally troublesome once you wish to succeed, and with all of the stress and every little thing, it is typically troublesome to deal with, however I believe he is been doing actually, rather well, and he is a very nice lad.”
Antonelli reverting to outdated suspension
Antonelli let slip that Mercedes are reverting him to an outdated suspension in a bid to attempt to arrest his latest efficiency decline which has seen him rating simply as soon as prior to now seven rounds.
He defined {that a} suspension change at his dwelling race at Imola, the place his downward spiral started, had a detrimental affect on his confidence.
Antonelli hopes the change will positively affect his weekend in Hungary.
“That hopefully will deliver the sensation again,” Antonelli mentioned. ”Since we moved to that suspension, other than Canada, I have been struggling to drive the automotive and get the arrogance.
“Additionally, I did not adapt the most effective as a result of I used to be at all times attempting to maintain my fashion and to drive the automotive the best way I wished, however it did not actually work out.
“George, however, has been adapting higher. Additionally, he has a distinct driving fashion, however he is been capable of adapt a bit higher.
“And I believe that is what’s been hurting me on this European season. So hopefully by going with the outdated suspension it should deliver again a bit the sensation I had previous to the beginning of the European season.”
