Karun Chandhok credits Mercedes for managing Kimi Antonelli career pressure

F1 analyst Karun Chandhok stated that Kimi Antonelli avoided significant career pressure by joining the Mercedes junior program instead of Ferrari. The Italian driver currently leads the Formula 1 Drivers' Championship by 66 points over teammate George Russell as he prepares for the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid. Mercedes signed Antonelli as an 11-year-old following his karting success, whereas Ferrari reportedly declined to sign the driver at a young age. Following a recent victory at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza where he moved from 19th on the grid to first, Antonelli dismissed the prospect of joining Ferrari in the near future. Chandhok suggested that the environment provided by Mercedes allowed the 20-year-old to develop without the intense scrutiny associated with being an Italian driver at Ferrari. The driver currently remains focused on his tenure at Mercedes.