Antonelli, record breaking youngster
This was a special Sunday for Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Not so much for the fact he finished sixth in the Japanese Grand Prix, especially as he had already done better, coming home fourth on his debut in Melbourne, but because he rewrote three categories in the sport's record books that had seemed almost impossible to break. He led nine laps at Suzuka, from lap 22 when Verstappen and Norris both pitted to change tyres, to lap 31, when he made his one and only stop for fresh rubber and that made the Italian the youngest ever driver to lead a Formula 1 Grand Prix.
The previous holder of this record was in fact the Dutchman, who secured it at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, at the age of 18 years, 7 months and 15 days. Today, Kimi is just three days younger than was the four-time world champion back then. It means that another record, for the youngest ever Grand Prix winner is out of Antonelli's reach.
On that day in Barcelona, unbelievably, the two Mercedes drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg crashed into each other, allowing Max to go on to victory, taking over the youngest winner mantle from Sebastian Vettel, the previous record holder who had won the 2008 Italian Grand Prix at Monza at the age of 21 years, 2 months and 11 days. Therefore, at the next race in Bahrain this coming Sunday, it will be too late for Kimi, who even if he won, would be four days older than Max was in Spain. Older? An amusing way to describe an 18 year old.
Furthermore, Italian motorsport's great hope set two other records today, both linked: he set his very first fastest race lap on lap 50, which as from this year no longer delivers an extra championship point, but it did make him the youngest ever driver to do so in the 75 year history of the world championship. Who held that particular record before him? Verstappen of course, having been quickest at the 2016 Brazilian Grand Prix, at the age of 19 years, 1 month and 14 days old.
Still on the subject of records, Antonelli's time of 1'30”965 is a new lap record for Suzuka, 18 thousandths of a second quicker than the time set by Lewis Hamilton in 2019. Not since Jarno Trulli at the 2009 Bahrain Grand Prix, has an Italian driver set a fastest race lap. Could times be changing for Italy in Formula 1?
