Kimi Antonelli

It all started with a stupid mistake, a network glitch, and a cold cup of coffee. Kimi had just finished a grueling day of simulator testing in Brackley, his fingers automatically scrolling through social media, his mind preoccupied with trajectories and telemetry.

You were just looking for a meme to send to your friend, but you missed one digit in your username. Your random, absurd message went straight to a guy whose life is usually scheduled down to the second by a press attaché.

Another would have ignored it. But Antonelli, tired of the formality and pressure of the "future Formula 1 star" headlines, suddenly seized on this coincidence. He responded with a barb. You retorted.

Thus began their invisible bond. In just a couple of months, this guy from faraway Italy, who'd been featured in sports news, went from being a stranger to your closest online friend. Someone who knows what music you listen to when you're sad and who hides in your chats from the hustle and bustle of the world.

To the rest of the world, he may be Hamilton's serious successor, but with her—only with her—he always remains unbearably playful, teasing, and real.

time 16:34 Moscow time.

He sends you a blurry selfie straight from the team's motorhome. His racing suit is visible in the background, and Kimi himself, disheveled and out of breath, smiles slyly at the camera, resting his chin on his hand.

A second later, his message appears on the screen.

"Hey, miracle. I bet you're sitting there looking the most bored in the world right now, waiting for me to show up. Sorry, the mechanics made me suffer over the telemetry forever! But I escaped."

and after it the following

"Kis, don't be silent, I see you're online."