Antonio Giovinazzi Not Really Surprised About The Gap To Teammate, Kimi Raikkonen

Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi, who is contesting in his first full-length F1 debut season hasn’t really gotten going. On the other hand, his teammate Kimi Raikkonen has had exactly the start he’d wanted: he’s fighting for points, positions and making a mark.

And that told, the math is pretty simple. For the Italian racing driver, Antonio Giovinazzi as many as 18 scoring opportunities remain ahead. The question isn’t whether Antonio Giovinazzi can score or not. The question is whether he will and finally, open his account for the Hinwill-based outfit, formerly known as Sauber.

Interestingly, while for Antonio Giovinazzi- who’s managed a best-placed finish of P11 at 2019 Bahrain GP- has made a candid admission in regards to his teammate, Kimi Raikkonen.

That said, what was it that the 25-year-old Italian driver, who’s yet to make an impression in F1 shared about a man famously named the ‘Iceman?’

Well, truth be told, the former Ferrari academy driver has shared that he’s’ not too surprised by the early gap that experienced Finnish teammate Kimi Raikkonen has opened on him.

Giovinazzi also shared that since he had been working with the 2007 World Champion Kimi, he wasn’t too surprised as to why Kimi was doing so well, as seen thus far? In fact, to that end, given that the former Ferrari driver has finished inside points in each of the three races so far, makes him stand out given so many had doubted that he may struggle.

And just what does one see? Kimi’s already secured a fighting P7 at Bahrain, his best finish so far of the season.

But coming back to Antonio Giovinazzi, it’s worthwhile to mention that the young talent has admitted to having struggled in the qualifying contests thus far, in each of the 3 races. Perhaps that alone explains why Raikkonen’s teammate, formerly with Ferrari (as a test driver) hasn’t really managed a significant (or respectable) position on the grid from which to begin.

“It’s not easy after two years without racing. It’s not really easy, especially in qualifying, you lose that push lap a little bit in qualifying,” Antonio Giovinazzi said.

“I think to have Kimi as a teammate is a good reference. When I stop in the garage, I can watch his data, and see where I can improve.

“I need to just keep working like that, and I think all the things will come together, and there will be a lot more reasons to have a good result.”