Racing
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Kimi Antonelli says Roger Federer urged him to approach the Formula 1 title race one weekend at a time and keep his emotions in check, with the Mercedes driver taking that advice into the Belgian Grand Prix as championship leader.
Ahead of Spa-Francorchamps, Antonelli said the 20-time Grand Slam champion’s message from their meeting at Wimbledon was immediately clear. “About pressure, he just told me to really focus on one race at a time, just focus on what you can control, and also to control your emotions, especially the ones that can make you make mistakes,” Antonelli told media, including RacingNews365.
The timing matters for the 19-year-old. After nine rounds, he leads the drivers’ standings by 25 points over Mercedes team-mate George Russell, turning a conversation in Wimbledon’s Royal Box into advice for a live championship fight.
Antonelli met Federer during his first visit to Wimbledon, where the pair sat together on Centre Court during the second week of the Championships. He said their conversation ranged from his own racing to Federer’s career and experience on grass.
“It was great. It was my first time at Wimbledon,” Antonelli said. “And also, to be able to talk with Roger, it was great. He told me a lot about the grass court, and also from his previous experiences.”
The advice also landed after a difficult British Grand Prix, where Antonelli finished 15th after a wheel cover became dislodged and he picked up a track limits penalty. Against that backdrop, Federer’s emphasis on composure and avoiding emotion-driven mistakes carried extra weight.
Antonelli said the meeting left an impression beyond the practical guidance. He described Federer as “an incredible person as well; very humble and very open as well,” as he heads to Belgium trying to protect his lead over Russell in the fight for a first F1 drivers’ title.