Antonelli reveals father's bizarre threat: 'I'll make you ten centimetres shorter!'
Photo: Race Pictures
Tobia is a Formula 1 journalist at GPblog with experience at international circuits. Since 2022, he has covered Grands Prix across Europe, delivering reliable coverage and insights from the paddock.
Kimi Antonelli has revealed how his father Marco jokingly threatened to make him ten centimetres shorter if he continued exceeding track limits during Formula 1 weekends. The Mercedes driver also recalled an incident involving Carlos Sainz at the United States Grand Prix, admitting that he made a mistake while following the Williams driver.
The newly crowned Formula 1 champion has enjoyed an extraordinary second season in the championship, becoming only the third driver after Jacques Villeneuve and Lewis Hamilton to secure the title in his second year. However, his campaign was not without difficulties, particularly when it came to respecting track limits, an issue that repeatedly caused concern for both Mercedes and his family.
Despite his impressive performances throughout the season, Antonelli frequently found himself pushing beyond the white lines while attempting to maximise his car's potential.
The problem became a recurring theme during race weekends, with the Italian acknowledging that his infringements have often left those around him worried about potential penalties. His father eventually decided to intervene, delivering a warning that Antonelli has now recalled with a smile.
Photo: Race Pictures
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Antonelli reveals father's threat over track limits
Speaking to Italian journalists in San Marino, Antonelli revealed the unusual warning he received from his father after repeatedly exceeding track limits.
"At one point, my father told me, 'If you exceed track limits again, I'll make you ten centimetres shorter!' So I thought it was better to avoid it!" Antonelli joked. "I know that in many races I kept my team, and especially my father, on edge because of the track limits infringements."
The Mercedes driver explained that his progress became particularly evident during the United States Grand Prix weekend in Austin, a circuit he considers among the most demanding on the calendar when it comes to respecting track limits. Despite those challenges, Antonelli managed to complete qualifying without a single infringement and exceeded the white lines only once during the race.
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That solitary incident came while battling Carlos Sainz, with Antonelli admitting that he had misjudged the situation while following the Williams driver into a braking zone.
"I was in traffic, I expected him to move under braking, but he stayed there. I was right behind him, so I locked up and went wide. But it was also my mistake in judgement. If you look closely, that was my only infringement of the race, and there weren't any in qualifying either. That was really satisfying!"
Austin ultimately proved a particularly significant weekend for Antonelli, who claimed victory and moved to the brink of securing the championship.
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