Antonelli on Valentino Rossi karting day and the crucial advice the MotoGP legend gave him

Valentino Rossi has been a long-term supporter of Mercedes F1 rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli has received support from MotoGP legend and fellow Italian Valentino Rossi. In between the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix, Antonelli was seen enjoying a karting day with the rider.

While speaking to Motorsport.com and other media in Suzuka, the Italian driver dished the details of the event and the crucial advice the seven-time MotoGP champion gave him for his rookie Formula 1 season:

"So we went karting together, it was pretty cool.

"I mean, he's such a cool dude. We had some good laughs, and he told me some stories from when he was racing in MotoGP, some funny ones as well that I can't really tell now. But you know he's such a cool guy.

"I mean he's a very easy person [to get along with], and we had a nice day together karting and definitely something that I would like to do in the future as well, hopefully also with all the [VR46] academy drivers as well because luckily I have a relationship with all of them as well.

"And, you know, also this year, I will probably go to a couple of MotoGP races just to go and see them and support them. And then, yeah, hopefully we can go one day altogether in karting because that would be a really cool experience."

Marco Antonelli with Andrea Kimi, Mercedes

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

The Mercedes driver added:

"First of all, he's been really supportive, about the start and what he's been telling me also the karting, you know, just to keep going at this, and enjoy.

"And especially focus on myself and not worrying about the rest, you know, enjoying the process and then yeah, then stay focused. So yeah, definitely, you know, he's a really cool guy, and he's someone I will look up to as well because he's such a great figure in the sport as well. It's also so nice from him that he's been so supportive from that side."

Rossi has been very supportive of Antonelli as he takes on his first full-time year in Mercedes. He previously commented to Formula Scout:

“I’m very happy to know Kimi because on the paper he can be the future Italian hope in F1. So we stay a bit together sometimes, and he is a great guy I like a lot, we enjoy."

Antonelli has had an impressive start to his rookie F1 campaign. After taking the seat alongside George Russell when Lewis Hamilton left for Ferrari, the pressure was on. And, after just two race weekends, he sits in fifth in the drivers' standing with 22 points.