72 replies to this topic

[JL14]

Today the trailer has been launched of Netflix' new The Seat documentary, which launches next week already (5 May).

Made together with Mercedes and Whatsapp, it tells Kimi's story to the Mercedes F1 seat.

 

WhatsApp and Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team present The Seat ft. Kimi Antonelli | Official Trailer

[Marklar]

I was cringing when this was mentioned. Even more after the trailer, but when I read the official press quotes I lost it

"Witness the private WhatsApp calls and chats that led to the shocking shift."

CEO Toto Wolff. “WhatsApp played an instrumental role in this. It was the engine that kept everything moving smoothly and privately, allowing our team to focus on Kimi’s development, discuss progress, and ultimately communicate our choice.

Antonelli, “It is a dream come true to be an F1 Driver with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team. Throughout the process, Toto, the team and I were in constant communication on WhatsApp and The Seat shows this process from start to finish. I can’t wait for the world to join us on this journey, streaming the documentary on Netflix.”

WhatsApp global head of marketing Vivian Odior. “This story and the WhatsApp messages within them really uncover the journey Mercedes took in navigating this pivotal moment in their history. We have always known WhatsApp, and the privacy we afford users, is integral to the inner workings of Mercedes in addition to being a tool in connecting drivers, fans, everyone really to those closest to them. It’s why this has been an organic partnership and why we knew we could tell this story authentically and delight this worldwide fandom.”

Edited by Marklar, 28 April 2025 - 14:10.

[STRFerrari4Ever]

They’re just making anything nowadays aren’t they?

[pacificquay]

It's not a documentary, it's an advert for whatsapp

[mclarensmps]

 

Antonelli, “It is a dream come true to be an F1 Driver with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team.

He's so young I can almost believe this lol

[Gravelngrass]

Honestly, the first time I read, I was trying to remember when Kimi drove for Mercedes…I thought maybe they meant McLaren Mercedes but after I saw the first reply I knew the op was referring to Andrea…

Edited by Gravelngrass, 28 April 2025 - 14:30.

[midgrid]

So does this make Antonelli a pay driver?

[IrvTheSwerve]

 

 

Antonelli, “It is a dream come true to be messaging through WhatsApp, to confirm myself as an F1 Driver with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team.

 

Not really, but they were dying for something like that.

[Dan333SP]

Ugh. This story without the Whatsapp marketing BS would be interesting, a more in depth DTS behind the scenes vibe, but those quotes are an immediate turnoff. 

[jonklug]

Next up. Christian Horner partners with WhatsApp for the most awaited documentary of all! 

[genius83]

So does this make Antonelli a pay driver?

Nope, he is a whatsapp driver

[P123]

So... a long winded whatsapp advert! 

[zeph]

It was inevitable, hate  but I can live with it as long as they don’t interrupt races with ad breaks.

[DW46]

I was cringing when this was mentioned. Even more after the trailer, but when I read the official press quotes I lost it

🥴🤢🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮

[DW46]

Honestly, the first time I read, I was trying to remember when Kimi drove for Mercedes…I thought maybe they meant McLaren Mercedes but after I saw the first reply I knew the op was referring to Andrea…

Maybe we’ll have to start calling older Kimi, Matias for ease.

[Stephane]

What a joke 🤣

[Ruusperi]

They’re just making anything nowadays aren’t they?

If they are, I want to see:

"Alex Yoong - A Netflix Story"

"Rebel Without a Cause starring Tomáš Enge"

"Matteo Bonciani - The Man Behind The Sign] [GIF]

"I was Mr. Safety Car - Oliver Gavin Biopic".

"The Forgotten Dane: Nicolas Kiesa"

[Topsu]

Damn, without WhatsApp, they might never have got the word out for Kimi that they're interested in him!

[Ferrim]

It reads like an April Fools news item.

[OvDrone]

I had a near full minute whiplash from thinking this was about Raikkonen and Mercedes somehow.

Then I saw Marklar's quotes and died.

[Gravelngrass]

Maybe we’ll have to start calling older Kimi, Matias for ease.

Haha no, there’s only one Kimi and he came first. And it’s not like he was an irrelevant driver/character either. The boy will have to do with Antonelli or Andrea. The nerve on some people.

[Gravelngrass]

“WhatsApp global head of marketing Vivian Odior. ‘This story and the WhatsApp messages within them really uncover the journey Mercedes took in navigating this pivotal moment in their history. We have always known WhatsApp, and the privacy we afford users, is integral to the inner workings of Mercedes in addition to being a tool in connecting drivers, fans, everyone really to those closest to them. It’s why this has been an organic partnership and why we knew we could tell this story authentically and delight this worldwide fandom.’

The most unauthentic story told authentically…

[Cliff]

Ask Horner how he feels about WhatsApp security 😂

[JimmyClark]

Next up will be a documentary featuring Xerox and how it almost brought down McLaren...

[The Passenger]

Next up will be a documentary featuring Xerox and how it almost brought down McLaren...

Don't give HP and Ferrari ideas.

[absinthedude]

F1 has sacrificed itself on the altar of money.

 

Welcome to the Heineken Rolex gran pree of Rwanda brought to you by Whatsapp. Whatsapp! THE messaging service used by AMG/Petronas Mercedes-Benz, don't leave home without it! And now over to our pit lane camera sponsored by Tylenol - because you need some to get through this dross. 

[Muppetmad]

I'm surprised WhatsApp needs the publicity – I dare say anybody who is likely to use it will already use it, and I find it hard to imagine this documentary will be the thing to convince the holdouts otherwise.

[Marklar]

I'm surprised WhatsApp needs the publicity – I dare say anybody who is likely to use it will already use it, and I find it hard to imagine this documentary will be the thing to convince the holdouts otherwise.

lemme bold the buzzwords

We have always known WhatsApp, and the privacy we afford users, is integral to the inner workings of Mercedes in addition to being a tool in connecting drivers, fans, everyone really to those closest to them.

It was the engine that kept everything moving smoothly and privately, allowing our team to focus on Kimi’s development, discuss progress, and ultimately communicate our choice.

now think who their parent company is.

[BRG]

Don't give HP and Ferrari ideas.

"Netflix brings you the inside story of how HP Sauce persuaded Lewis Hamilton to desert Mercedes!"

 

F1 has sacrificed itself on the altar of money.

That ship sailed a VERY long time ago!

[gillesfan76]

I never thought I would see a worse marketing fail than McLaren making Lewis Hamilton hang off some wires in the middle of the air. But there you have it.

[jonpollak]

Ever wonder how Facebook got the name for it's messaging app?

 

Just as obnoxious as this product placement promo garbage.

Enjoy...

 

 

Jp

[JRodrigues]

Honestly, the first time I read, I was trying to remember when Kimi drove for Mercedes…I thought maybe they meant McLaren Mercedes but after I saw the first reply I knew the op was referring to Andrea…

 

I was thinking the exact same thing! Just call him Antonelli.

[Gravelngrass]

F1 has sacrificed itself on the altar of money.

Welcome to the Heineken Rolex gran pree of Rwanda brought to you by Whatsapp. Whatsapp! THE messaging service used by AMG/Petronas Mercedes-Benz, don't leave home without it! And now over to our pit lane camera sponsored by Tylenol - because you need some to get through this dross.

As if we didn’t already have the *brandname* sporting event of everywhere. By god, one would believe that Emirates, for example, would think it could get confusing (and tiring) for the consumer if they sponsor EVERYTHING…

[Gravelngrass]

I was thinking the exact same thing! Just call him Antonelli.

Yep, don’t know why some people insist on calling him Kimi. If a driver called Ayrton would reach F1, would people still call him Ayrton? We get it, he was yours and your dad’s favorite driver. Well then, you know what? If you really want to honor him, respect him and don’t use his name when you race! And if not, if you were just randomly named Kimi, know there was someone that came before you that had a storied career in F1 and so far has achieved more than you so use your second name. That’s part of what it’s there for…

[BRG]

...so use your second name. That’s part of what it’s there for…

Kimi is his second name.  His proper first name is Andrea. 

 

All this hyping of a young lad who hasn't in fact achieved very much SO FAR is a bit sickening.  Pay your dues, son, and earn some results the hard way before you allow yourself to be elevated to GOAT status. I am surprised he hasn't been nominated to be the new Pope!

[DW46]

Kimi is his second name. His proper first name is Andrea.

All this hyping of a young lad who hasn't in fact achieved very much SO FAR is a bit sickening. Pay your dues, son, and earn some results the hard way before you allow yourself to be elevated to GOAT status. I am surprised he hasn't been nominated to be the new Pope!

Breaking: Antonelli named new Pope. Brought to you by WhatsApp.

Pope Kimi II.

[Gravelngrass]

Kimi is his second name. His proper first name is Andrea.

All this hyping of a young lad who hasn't in fact achieved very much SO FAR is a bit sickening. Pay your dues, son, and earn some results the hard way before you allow yourself to be elevated to GOAT status. I am surprised he hasn't been nominated to be the new Pope!

Oh it’s his second name. Even more so, why are people using his second name? Do we talk about Emilian Verstappen or Carl Hamilton? I think the whole WhatsApp thing may be giving us a hint…

[Beri]

A lot of hype over nothing. "The seat"? I guess one can stretch it over some decades, claiming "the seat" has always been filled by a (future) World Champion. With the likes of Hamilton, Schumacher, Button and Villeneuve. But I think that's a step too far. The kid just got a vacant seat. Nothing special about it. He was ready for F1 so he deserved it. Simple as that.

[noikeee]

I think I hate the debate over his name even more than this ridiculously cringe advert for WhatsApp "TV show".

[AnttiK]

Do we talk about Emilian Verstappen or Carl Hamilton?

 

No, but then again we don't talk about Emilio Farina, John Hawthorn, Norman Hill, Karl-Jochen Rindt, Bengt Peterson, Andreas-Nikolaus Lauda or Daniel Tambay either.

 

BTW fun fact, technically speaking the original Kimi also uses an artist name. His actual real first name isn't actually Kimi, it's Kimi-Matias.

[Gravelngrass]

No, but then again we don't talk about Emilio Farina, John Hawthorn, Norman Hill, Karl-Jochen Rindt, Bengt Peterson, Andreas-Nikolaus Lauda or Daniel Tambay either.

BTW fun fact, technically speaking the original Kimi also uses an artist name. His actual real first name isn't actually Kimi, it's Kimi-Matias.

Hmm not sure you got my point. Antonelli is Andrea Kimi, so he’s using his second name The real Kimi uses his first name as well, Kimi, not Matthias, same as Max and Lewis in my example.

[IrvTheSwerve]

Hmm not sure you got my point. Antonelli is Andrea Kimi, so he’s using his second name The real Kimi uses his first name as well, Kimi, not Matthias, same as Max and Lewis in my example.

 

This has been discussed a million times, but he is referred to by, and uses, his second name...which is extremely common. My father and sister go by their middle names.

 

Yes, it's annoying as it's such a unique name in F1 that we attribute to Kimi Raikkonen, but it is what it is.

[IrvTheSwerve]

A lot of hype over nothing. "The seat"? I guess one can stretch it over some decades, claiming "the seat" has always been filled by a (future) World Champion. With the likes of Hamilton, Schumacher, Button and Villeneuve. But I think that's a step too far. The kid just got a vacant seat. Nothing special about it. He was ready for F1 so he deserved it. Simple as that.

 

I saw it advertised as 'the biggest driver transfer in F1 history' the other day. 

[AnttiK]

Hmm not sure you got my point. Antonelli is Andrea Kimi, so he’s using his second name

My point was that there have been quite a few racing legends who didn't use their first name, like Norman Graham Hill for example.
 

The real Kimi uses his first name as well, Kimi, not Matthias

 

No he doesn't because Matias is not his second name, his first name is Kimi-Matias. Names that are combined with a hyphen are considered as one name in Finland. Without the hyphen Matias would be his second name, but as it is, his real first name is actually Kimi-Matias. So technically speaking Kimi Räikkönen is just an artist name.

[Stephane]

My preferred is JJ Lehto

[jonpollak]

How bout we call him AKA
Because he’s also know as.

Jp

[RedRabbit]

Ever wonder how Facebook got the name for it's messaging app?

Just as obnoxious as this product placement promo garbage.
Enjoy...

https://www.youtube....h?v=HDB2pA76yfw

Jp

Eh? Facebook bought WhatsApp long after Messenger was developed

[PlatenGlass]

This has been discussed a million times, but he is referred to by, and uses, his second name...which is extremely common. My father and sister go by their middle names.

 

Yes, it's annoying as it's such a unique name in F1 that we attribute to Kimi Raikkonen, but it is what it is.

 

The difference here is that he only goes by his middle name because of Kimi Raikkonen. It's not a coincidence. If he was Andrea John Antonelli, he would not be referred to as John. As I mentioned in another thread, people in F1 circles call him Kimi, but it's not the name he goes by with family and friends. So it's been foisted upon him, essentially by you lot. Read what's said here: https://www.bbc.co.u...es/cly8w37pv8xo

 

Antonelli says he understands why everyone calls him Kimi, rather than his actual first name.

"It is more natural," he says. "It is nice and short. Especially in the world of racing, it is such an iconic name.

"My best friends, my close friends, they all call me Andrea. Also my family."

 

Furthermore, Andrea or Kimi, the default single-name for drivers is their surname, so Antonelli. But for some reason, people don't notice they're bypassing this when calling him Kimi and think it's instead of Andrea, when it's actually a bit weird to be using any of his given names. This is also 100% because of Kimi Raikkonen. (More established drivers do sometimes get called by their first name, but not normally someone in their debut year who hasn't done anything yet.)

 

So the arguments all fall flat. Kimi is in at best 4th place of the names you should use for him, behind Antonelli, Andrea and AKA.

[PayasYouRace]

The difference here is that he only goes by his middle name because of Kimi Raikkonen. It's not a coincidence. If he was Andrea John Antonelli, he would not be referred to as John. As I mentioned in another thread, people in F1 circles call him Kimi, but it's not the name he goes by with family and friends. So it's been foisted upon him, essentially by you lot. Read what's said here: https://www.bbc.co.u...es/cly8w37pv8xo


Furthermore, Andrea or Kimi, the default single-name for drivers is their surname, so Antonelli. But for some reason, people don't notice they're bypassing this when calling him Kimi and think it's instead of Andrea, when it's actually a bit weird to be using any of his given names. This is also 100% because of Kimi Raikkonen. (More established drivers do sometimes get called by their first name, but not normally someone in their debut year who hasn't done anything yet.)

So the arguments all fall flat. Kimi is in at best 4th place of the names you should use for him, behind Antonelli, Andrea and AKA.

Why does it bother you at all?

[PlatenGlass]

Why does it bother you at all?

Bother? I quite enjoy it.

This is all in good humour isn't it?

Edited by PlatenGlass, 01 May 2025 - 15:34.