Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli has revealed {that a} robust post-race assembly after a poor Italian Grand Prix led to a psychological reset for the remainder of the 2025 Formulation 1 season.
Following a vibrant begin, which included a dash pole in Miami, Antonelli’s maiden marketing campaign was derailed attributable to an ill-fated Mercedes suspension replace that sapped him of confidence, whereas the elevated curiosity and scrutiny throughout the European leg of the marketing campaign additional drained his psychological power.
Antonelli’s yr hit all-time low at Monza in September when an off in FP2 left him on the again foot. The Italian teenager then slipped backwards initially and was left off the tempo, ending ninth behind Sauber rookie Gabriel Bortoleto.
“Underwhelming,” Mercedes chief Toto Wolff summed up Antonelli’s Monza weekend on the time. “You’ll be able to’t put the automobile within the gravel mattress and anticipate to be there. All the race was underwhelming. Would not change something on my help and confidence in his future, as a result of I consider he’ll be very, very, superb. However immediately was underwhelming.”
In an unique, extensive ranging interview with Motorsport.com, which will be learn in full, Antonelli revealed he held a post-Monza assembly together with his boss and race engineer Peter Bonnington which reworked the remainder of his marketing campaign.
“Throughout that tough interval I misplaced my path slightly, there was loads of frustration, and I began considering an excessive amount of concerning the ultimate outcome,” Antonelli defined. “Each time I bought within the automobile, I put loads of strain on myself and did not give attention to driving effectively.
Toto Wolff, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Formulation 1 through Getty Photos
“After Monza, there was a gathering between me, Toto and Bono and after that assembly, I advised myself that I needed to reset and begin from scratch.
“They advised me straight to my face what they considered my efficiency, particularly at Monza. But it surely was constructive criticism that I took onboard in a optimistic approach, and that helped me reset and made me decided to say: ‘OK, now issues are going to alter’. They usually did change.”
Antonelli’s turnaround coincided with Mercedes reverting to its earlier suspension in Zandvoort and an improved second half of the season included podiums in Sao Paulo and Las Vegas.
The 19-year-old, who completed seventh within the 2025 standings, subsequently feels his rookie blues gave him a strong basis of expertise to construct on for his sophomore marketing campaign in 2026.
“The return to the previous rear suspension, which occurred at Zandvoort, helped me lots, however the turning level was above all a psychological reset,” he mentioned. “I went again to fundamentals – driving effectively, doing the correct issues each time I bought within the automobile, identical to earlier than.
“Now I can say that overcoming a tough interval gave me an additional psychological enhance. Placing these very robust months behind me was not a given; it was a tricky however helpful take a look at.”
When requested what recommendation he would give to his youthful self earlier than the beginning of the 2025 season in Melbourne, he replied: “Belief your instincts extra – your talents, the qualities which have allowed you to have this chance. Each time you get within the automobile, ensure you have a ‘killer’ mentality. Whenever you’re on the monitor, face every little thing head on.”
Learn Additionally:
We wish your opinion!
What would you wish to see on Motorsport.com?
– The Motorsport.com Group
