Hamilton’s Advice to Antonelli in Merc Motorhome

Lewis Hamilton made a surprise stop at the Mercedes motorhome ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, offering words of support to rookie driver Kimi Antonelli after a tough qualifying session.

The seven-time world champion, now racing for Ferrari, spotted Antonelli looking downcast and decided to step in. “I saw him in the engineering room, head in his hands,” Hamilton said. “It reminded me of my early days, so I wanted to lift him up.”

Antonelli, the 18-year-old Italian stepping into Hamilton’s former seat at Mercedes alongside George Russell, had spun out in Q2 at Spa-Francorchamps, starting the race from 15th. The pressure of his debut season has been intense, with high expectations following his rapid rise from junior formulas.

Hamilton shared simple advice: “Keep pushing, learn from the setbacks, and trust your talent.” Antonelli later called the chat a turning point. “Hearing that from Lewis meant everything. It gave me the boost I needed for the race.”

Despite the qualifying mishap, Antonelli fought back to finish eighth, scoring points in a rain-hit event. Hamilton, starting from pole in his Ferrari, took victory, extending his lead in the drivers’ standings.

This gesture highlights Hamilton’s ongoing ties to Mercedes, where he won six of his titles before switching teams for 2025. Antonelli, promoted from Formula 2, is part of a refreshed grid that includes Oliver Bearman at Haas and other young talents shaking up the field.