Kimi Antonelli admits “ups and downs” in rookie F1 season left him doubting himself

For Andrea Kimi Antonelli, coming underneath assault from the underside half of the web is simply the newest surprising problem which has beset him throughout an up-and-down rookie season with Mercedes in Components 1.

Though the Crimson Bull workforce apologised for its half in stoking the web hatred prompted by Antonelli’s journey throughout the kerbs late within the Qatar Grand Prix, permitting championship chief Lando Norris to pounce and declare fourth place, this got here too late to stem the momentum of the marketing campaign.

Antonelli revealed that whereas he wasn’t initially conscious of the bile being directed at him – in frequent with the vast majority of F1 drivers, he doesn’t really function his social media feeds – he was shaken by what he noticed as soon as alerted to it.

“It was not simple to get all these type of feedback after the race, particularly for one thing that I might by no means do, akin to waving previous a competitor,” he stated. “After the race to obtain these type of feedback positively damage, however clearly it was good to see the Crimson Bull assertion.

“The interplay with folks [on social media] is necessary, however in the course of the weekend I attempt to look the least quantity as potential, as a result of I do not need to get any distractions, I simply need to actually deal with the job.

“However after the race I acquired so many messages from mates exhibiting me what was occurring, as a result of initially I wasn’t conscious of it – after which clearly I went taking a look at it and it was troublesome to see, however now I’ve forgotten about it.”

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Photograph by: Lars Baron / LAT Photos by way of Getty Photos

Arguably his obvious stoop in kind in the course of the summer season was extra damaging than the web loss of life threats levelled in opposition to him after Qatar. A brand new rear suspension geometry, first trialled on the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, must have introduced extra constant ride-height management to the Mercedes’ rear finish and delivered extra constant downforce, however really introduced instability robbed each drivers of essential ‘really feel’ underneath braking.

Racing circumstances akin to Mercedes’ subsequent victory in Canada – a observe the place a lot of the braking is finished in a straight line – masked the problem. Antonelli hit a aggressive nadir in Belgium the place failure to make it out of Q1 for each the dash and the grand prix decreased him to tears.

Because the workforce reverted to the earlier geometry in Hungary, Antonelli has appeared extra like the driving force who claimed his first F1 pole place within the Miami dash, ending persistently within the factors and claiming podiums in Sao Paulo and Las Vegas. He’s simply two factors behind sixth-placed Lewis Hamilton within the drivers’ championship forward of the season finale.

“This 12 months has been an enormous studying curve for me,” he stated. “Undoubtedly going into Mercedes this primary 12 months I feel was an enormous alternative. Clearly I used to be extra underneath the highlight, extra underneath strain, however I feel that basically helped me to develop even quicker.

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“I feel this season I’ve had my ups and my downs. Clearly I had a really lengthy, troublesome interval, however having the ability to overcome it made me stronger. It was type of a small victory for me, as a result of clearly throughout that time frame in Europe I even began to doubt myself and I used to be additionally afraid that I would not have been in a position to get out of it.

“However then clearly since Baku we have been in momentum and it has been good enjoyable lately. So I am fairly proud of the season, however largely I am proud of how a lot I grew and the way a lot I matured as an individual.

“And positively subsequent 12 months I’ll be way more ready and way more answerable for the scenario.”

Pictures from Abu Dhabi GP – Thursday

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing