Tatuus iMagazine

20 The Interview - Kimi Antonelli “Braking is impressive with the new car” F4 championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli explains the difference between the Tatuus T‐014 racecar that he drove in the last part of the season and made the history of the series, and the brand‐new Tatuus T‐421 W ho better than Andrea Kimi Antonelli can explain the difference between the two generations of Tatuus Formula 4 cars? The 15‐year‐old from Bologna had the chance to know and understand the Tatuus F4 T‐014 and the brand‐new Tatuus T‐421. Antonelli started his single‐seater career with the first‐generation car in September 2021, making his debut in the Italian Formula 4 Championship, and entered the final three events with Prema. In his first outing, he captured a rookie win before claiming two class podiums at Mugello and delivering three rookie wins, and three overall podiums in difficult weather conditions at Monza. On the December 12th weekend, Antonelli then took the T‐421 to its first pole position in the extra‐championship Formula 4 UAE event in the frame of the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Antonelli ended up third, but only had to wait one month, when he dominated the two opening races of the championship, again at Abu Dhabi. He carried the same form to Europe where he has been dominating the Italian and German F4 championships with 15 wins in 21 races. "The differences between the two cars are remarkable, starting with the halo system, which doesn't bother us driving," Antonelli says. “However, it makes the new car heavier than the previous one, but the better aerodynamics compensate for this deficit. In fact, on the new Tatuus, the bottom panel is longer and provides more grip, especially in fast corners. Power has increased as well, and that's evident especially on straights, but the biggest difference is the brakes, which are now much more powerful. Braking has become easier, and you have to provide a smaller peak initially. On the other hand, it is a little more difficult to modulate the release, and the risk of locking the inside wheel has increased." Did you have to adapt your driving style to be competitive with the new car? "The new car is a little more understeers than the old one, but that didn’t necessarily change my driving to keep the pace, and I felt good right away, also because, in my opinion, it is a little easier to drive. I really like the handling of this car, more than the previous one, even though it is heavier and slower on the dry lap at the moment. As a result, tire degradation has increased, so you have to know how to manage that. I think this is good because tire management is something you have to deal with in the higher categories." Do you think the races held in the Emirates were important for being competitive in Europe? "They were very important because we were able to work on the car and find a good set‐up. The results are evident because the whole by Mattia Tremolada Prema team is making a difference compared to the others because of the work done in the Emirates, which allowed us to line up prepared for the first European race. As for me, I had already finished the season well last year with three podiums in Monza, and that motivated me a lot. I was very keen to discover the new car and find the chemistry immediately." The first part of the season was highlighted by the rivalry between you and Rafael Camara. Do you expect a two‐way fight for the title, or do you see someone else able to get into it? "I think that towards the end of the season the other teams will get