Marco Bezzecchi
Kimi Antonelli has given his thoughts on what it is like to have Valentino Rossi as a close confidante, echoing a similar sentiment to his predecessor at the Mercedes Formula 1 team, Lewis Hamilton.
Since emerging as a dominant force in MotoGP during the early 2000s, Valentino Rossi has transcended the sport itself to become a globally recognisable figure from the premier class of Grand Prix motorcycle racing.
F1 star Kimi Antonelli has visited Valentino Rossi’s ranch during the break – But which MotoGP rider would win a race in Formula 1 cars?
Since retiring from the sport at the end of the 2021 campaign, Rossi has continued to use his influence in order to aid MotoGP’s next generation.
Take Marco Bezzecchi, for example. The current MotoGP championship leader has been under Rossi’s wing through the VR46 Riders’ Academy since 2015, and could be on his way to joining Francesco Bagnaia as the programme’s only world champions in the sport.
F1 star Kimi Antonelli is another young talent who is now benefitting from the wisdom of The Doctor as Italian competitors dominate the championships on both two wheels, as well as four.
Kimi Antonelli echoes Lewis Hamilton’s sentiments on what Valentino Rossi is really like
The 19-year-old phenomenon was in attendance at the most recent round of MotoGP at Mugello, and waved the chequered flag for his compatriot as he crossed the finish line to take his, and Aprilia’s, first ever win at the Italian Grand Prix.
Could Valentino Rossi help Marco Bezzecchi beat Marc Marquez to win the 2026 MotoGP title?
It was a monumental occasion for Bezzecchi, who was later collared for an interview alongside Antonelli for Sport MediaSet in Aprilia’s team garages. Both were asked for their thoughts on what Rossi means to them, and both were highly complimentary.
Bezzecchi began by replying with, “He’s been my idol since I was a child; I wanted to be like him. Then, getting to know him, he became an even more important figure to me, even though I still see him as an idol despite being able to talk to him, train with him and spend time with him.”
During his answer, Antonelli highlighted how impressed he is with how humble Rossi is despite his worldly success, adding, “He’s an icon; he’s made sporting history. I’m lucky enough to know him and be his friend, and I’ve been impressed by how down-to-earth he is.”
Interestingly, the Mercedes star’s comments echoed the sentiments that seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton previously revealed about Rossi following an event in which the two icons came together to swap their respective machinery.
- READ MORE: Marc Marquez names the one big similarity between himself and Lewis Hamilton after Ducati move
Speaking via The Standard, Hamilton said, “It was a privilege to spend time with Vale, and you realise the human behind the helmet and all that success. He’s just a really normal, decent, fun human being.
“Always smiling, always positive. His passion for what he does is clear – it’s no wonder, the success he’s had. There’s so much to learn from someone like him.”
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
