'Private' Conversation With Wolff About 'Bloody Impressive' Antonelli Revealed By Vowles

Tuesday, 30 July 2024 at 22:00

James Vowles revealed his reaction in a private chat with Toto Wolff to Andrea Kimi Antonelli's overtake at Spa.

Although F1 fans don't tend to know F2 drivers by name, many are, by this point, very familiar with Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes's academy junior.

The 17-year-old Italian skipped F3 last year to take part in the 2024 F2 Championship, where he currently stands in seventh place with two victories.

It is understood the youngster is the biggest candidate for the 2025 seat in Mercedes, and during the most recent race weekend in Spa, he yet again showed why there is so much hype around him.

The 17-year-old made an overtake under wet conditions, going full throttle, wheel to wheel, into the Eau Rouge (the famous uphill chicane at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps). Watch it below:

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FAN CAM 📹 Another angle of that Kimi Antonelli move 👀 Filmed from the stands by @maithe_schobben 🤗 #F2 #BelgianGP

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You might say you've seen many overtakes in F1 and ask why this one would be so special, but the reaction of Williams's team principal, James Vowles, says it all. He said:

"I'll talk to you about something that's very private, but I hope Toto doesn't mind. We were messaging during the F2 [sprint] race [at Spa-Francorchamps]."

"And for me, what Kimi did is bloody impressive. It was against Colapinto, our own driver here [at Williams]. He went up the inside [of Eau Rouge], and he didn't lift."

Like many other team principals, Vowles himself is also a very experienced driver, so he understands well what level of skill, confidence, and talent is needed to perform such an overtake. He added:

"For all of you that have at least been in a racing car, you know how tough that move was. That, in the wet, is not just brave, that takes a hell of a lot of skill, and he had snaps at the top of Eau Rouge. That's impressive."