Antonio Giovinazzi can be “trouble” for Kimi Raikkonen at Sauber in 2019, according to former team owner Giancarlo Minardi.
In his first full season on the grid, the 2016 GP2 champion faces a big task up against the 2007 world champion who shows no sign of slowing down even at 39.
He is also under pressure to live up to the performances of fellow Ferrari member Charles Leclerc last season, with the Monegasque scoring 39 points in his rookie year.
However, Minardi began his comments by expressing delight at seeing the Italian flag once again being represented on the grid by a driver.
“It is a very important signal for the whole of Italian motorsport, for young drivers, and also for the future of the Italian Grand Prix,” he told his official website.
F1 has already had a glimpse at Giovinazzi after his two Sauber appearances at the start of 2017, but after not making a big impression then, the 71-year-old thinks this time will be different.
“Raikkonen will have to look over his shoulder carefully because I am sure he [Giovinazzi] will be able to put him in trouble,” Minardi claimed.
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As for Giovinazzi himself, he recently told RaceFans of the rather ambitious target he hopes Sauber can aim for this year.
“I think it will be a really high target for Sauber to be the fourth [best] team,” he said.
“Renault is really strong and will be really strong next year also with their drivers. So we don’t know yet.
“Next year will be a different car. We’ll see. The target for sure is to be the best of the rest but it’s a really high target. We will try.”