Kimi Antonelli on the AMG GT2 W16 at Silverstone

As we reach the pit-lane exit, Kimi Antonelli presses the kill switch in the AMG GT2. With its gruff, burbling V8 silenced, the car glides to a stop in near silence, interrupted only by squealing brakes. The door swings open. “Yeah, we had some aquaplaning,” says the driver, displaying the Italian version of absolute nonchalance. Unflappable, that is.

I can vouch for it. Just three minutes before we went out, Silverstone did what it does best, conjuring a torrential downpour from a sky that had been mostly blue and cloudless for the preceding two hours. Slick tyres were replaced with full wets, and what had promised to be an all-out attack became an exercise in car control.

Any loss in cornering speed is more than offset by Kimi’s knack for finding grip where none appears to exist. Watching it from close range is extraordinary, particularly as Silverstone has effectively become a lake. The car has multi-stage traction control, certainly, but he has turned it down so much that his right foot is making the decisions.

Stowe, Vale and Club are challenging enough in dry conditions; now they verge on ridiculous. Wellington Straight is no easier, and it is there that the aquaplaning happens… are we actually going to go off?

Naturally, we do not. F1 drivers have a remarkable ability to remove the danger from moments such as these. Every input is exquisitely measured. With the Monaco GP also approaching, Kimi clearly has the risk-versus-reward calculation under control. As we know, he will dominate F1’s crown-jewel race in a way that leads even seasoned F1 observers such as Martin Brundle to compare him with Ayrton Senna. The youngster plainly has an abundance of the right qualities. For now, though, he is simply taking it all in his stride, as though this is what he was made to do. His talent is immense, but he remains firmly grounded.

Kimi has also put his name to a limited-edition AMG GT2 called the W16, featuring a Push2Pass system delivering up to 819bhp as well as integrated DRS. Like other major manufacturers, Mercedes-AMG has realised that customer racing cars can be highly lucrative; the best-known example is the GT3 Evo, which Verstappen Racing took close to victory at last month’s Nürburgring 24 Hours.

The AMG GT2 W16 is not homologated, however, so no regulations restrict it. It receives revised turbochargers and engine electronics alongside its boost device, plus a six-speed sequential racing gearbox, adjustable dampers and four-stage anti-roll bars on both axles. Kimi’s signature is printed across the door sills. It is an exceptionally tempting track-day machine, priced at £706k. Antonelli himself has come to hand the cars over to a garage full of fortunate new owners.

“I drove it in Monza, when we first presented the car, before the Grand Prix. It’s very, very cool,” he says. “I gave my feedback and they did some tweaks. To be fair, from the first laps it felt great, you know easy to drive, the perfect car to have fun with on the track. It’s a quick car, with push-to-pass I did 310km/h on the straight at Monza, that’s pretty rapid…”

Top Gear: So that’s four GP wins in a row (now five)…

Kimi Antonelli: Had someone told me that at the beginning of the year, I would have accepted it. I believed I could perform well, but it also had the potential to be very difficult because George is exceptionally quick. It has been a brilliant start, and the aim is to sustain that momentum, continue extracting the maximum result and keep lifting the standard. It is obviously an enormous opportunity, and you want to get the most from it.

Racking up the wins race after race must mean more confidence, which in turn means more pace, right?

That first victory felt like breaking the ice, or unlocking a new stage in a computer game. Greater confidence lets you drive with more freedom and enjoy the whole weekend more completely. Looking at the onboard footage from last year beside this year’s, the change is huge: even the position of my hands on the steering wheel shows that I am much more relaxed now. It is a major difference, and a great feeling.

Because the car is clearly better this year, too?

Having a fast car unquestionably helps, as does having a year’s experience. You understand far better what is coming. You have more control over the situation, greater awareness of your ability, and a stronger understanding of the team and how to manage your energy throughout the weekend. I know myself far better now: what I require, what I do not, and how to manage myself over a race weekend so I am always at 100 per cent when I get into the car.

You’re still so young. Is the 19-year old battling the F1 driver?

Above all, I try to remain myself, including at the circuit. I aim to bring plenty of positive energy to the team and bring a lot of my Italian character into it, while enjoying my time with everyone as much as possible. Building a strong relationship with the mechanics and engineers matters too. That helps create a genuinely good dynamic within the team, allowing you as a driver to enjoy more of the weekend, not only the time spent driving.

Do you ever lose your temper?

Yes, but in the car rather than outside it. When I am frustrated or angry, I try not to reveal too much outwardly and keep it to myself. I want the energy to stay positive, and I do not want to bring too much negativity into difficult moments. [pause] It is not as though I am happy all the time and everything is perfect. I do get pissed off.

Does your father get on your case?

[laughs] He is far more composed now. At times, he still gives me a bit of a kicking, but he does it positively and constructively.

You really do seem to have an advanced emotional maturity for someone of your age.

I have an excellent team behind me and a wonderful family. My father raced himself and now runs his own racing team; he has been involved in the sport for more than 30 years. He always makes sure I stay grounded, remain focused on the ultimate goal and do not get distracted by external things. I have been with Mercedes since 2018, so I have grown up with them.

Are you treated like a rock star in Italy now? Do you need bodyguards?

It is fine. I still go out. Naturally, people stop me much more frequently now, but I do not regard that as a negative. Sometimes you simply want to be by yourself, but I have recently moved to San Marino and now have my own space, where I can unwind and…

Leave the dirty dishes in the sink?

No, no, I still have to do my chores.

Do you know where the washing machine is?

Yes, but I had to learn. The first time I used one, I made a bit of a disaster by mixing the wrong colours together.

We’ve all been there, Kimi, don’t worry.

But I have learned that lesson now… I still return to Bologna to see my friends and go out for dinner. I do get stopped, but provided people are respectful, it is nice. I genuinely enjoy it.

You own a Mercedes-AMG GT, but is there anything you’re really after?

A Project One is my dream car. It is a major step, and I would love to try one. I need to win a few world championships before I can get one, but I have always loved cars generally.

What car pictures did you have on your bedroom wall?

I had a picture of Ayrton Senna, along with some pictures of Gilles Villeneuve. My father was a huge fan of his. We have the famous image of him in the house, on full opposite lock. I have watched footage of the race in which he crashed and drove the car on three wheels [Dutch GP, 1979], as well as the battle with Arnoux [French GP, 1979]… two drivers fighting each other flat-out. I would love to try some older cars, something powered by a V12 or V10 engine.

How complicated are this year’s cars to drive?

It is fascinating. The technology has advanced enormously, making the cars incredibly quick, incredibly fast and very complicated at the same time. That is why so many people at the circuit and factory are building and developing them. The standard is simply so high now.

I'd love to try some older cars, something with a V12 or V10

How do you like your car set up?

It is clearly about finding the correct balance, but I prefer a car that rotates rather than one that understeers. It also depends on the circuit. At Monaco, you want a car that rotates well because it is lower speed, while at a circuit such as Silverstone you need something more stable so that you can carry more speed into the corners. You want as much front-end potential as possible without compromising the rear too heavily. There are circuits where you drive with more oversteer, and others where you go slightly in the other direction.

Now we’re into the European phase of the championship. How does that feel?

People say, ‘Europe was bad last year’ and things like that. But I know what I am capable of, so we will wait and see. Hopefully, we can perform very well until the summer break and then continue from wherever we finish.

Onto the really important stuff – is your grandma’s cooking the best in Italy?

Yes.

But isn’t every Italian grandma’s cooking the best, though?

Yes, I suppose so, but not as good as mine. She is my mother’s mother. She comes from Veneto but moved to Emilia-Romagna. Her speciality is curly pasta with sausage, and she also makes ribbon pasta with meat sauce. My aunt, my mother’s sister, works in a pasta shop. They make fresh pasta there - ribbon pasta and stuffed pasta parcels - and it is amazing. The shop is in Bologna. I enjoy it so much in winter. In fact, perhaps too much.