Kimi Antonelli has predicted he will be itching to get back to action during the F1 summer break, despite understanding the necessity to switch off.
The Italian has enjoyed a strong first half of the campaign this year and currently holds a 50-point lead in the drivers' championship.
His healthy advantage sits despite winning just once in the last five races, with Mercedes' rivals offering a challenge after being slower out of the gates at the start of the year.
Having started the year earlier than normal due to the regulation change and the required preparations they created, Antonelli insisted an opportunity to switch off is welcome.
“I feel like it’s needed, the break”, Antonelli told media including RacingNews365.
“Because it’s been almost eight months flat out. If I look back, I think I started the activities on the 3rd of January this season. So it was pretty flat out.
“To be fair, also before Miami, I thought, ‘oh my God, like a four-week break’. You know, just coming off Japan with momentum, race win. I was like, ‘oh my God, I actually might lose the momentum’ because four weeks is a lot.
“But then, I remember going into Miami FP1, feeling great in the car.
“I was like, ‘OK, maybe I didn’t lose the momentum’. So I feel like the momentum is still going to be there.
“But I feel like the break is needed. To have a proper break, to be able to switch off a little bit.”
F1 is heading into an intense finish to the year when the season resumes, as Antonelli goes in search of a maiden F1 title.
But with the current August break the only opportunity he will likely have to rest, the Italian is already feeling the itch to get back behind the wheel.
“Even though I’m sure after three, four days, I’m going to be busting my balls,” he said. “I’m going to be bored.
“And I’m going to be like, ‘I want to be back on track’. Luckily, where I’m going, there’s a go-kart track.
“I’m going to be practising. But I feel like on the other side, it’s needed to just, you know, disconnect a little bit.
“Go out, enjoy a bit of time with the family, with friends. And just recharge overall, the body, the mind, in order to be ready for the second half.”
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