Father Warns Antonelli on Track Limits After Belgian Win

Nineteen-year-old Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, the current Formula One championship leader, has revealed that his father and former racer Marco delivered a stern, if jocular, warning following his victory at the Belgian Grand Prix last weekend. Despite winning from pole position at Spa-Francorchamps, extending his championship lead to 45 points, Antonelli received two track limit warnings during the race, prompting his father to threaten to "stretch your neck like a chicken" if he continued to make such unnecessary errors.

Speaking to reporters ahead of this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix, Antonelli recounted the post-race conversation. He said his father congratulated him but immediately added that if he saw him exceeding track limits for no reason again, he would resort to the colorful poultry metaphor. Antonelli acknowledged the criticism, admitting he has a tendency to overuse the track and describing his two infringements in Belgium as "very stupid." He cited similar issues earlier this season in Barcelona and Miami, where he received five-second penalties for track limit violations.

The young Italian leads the drivers' standings after winning six of the season's first...