Greater than a query of factors scored and positions within the standings, the aim of Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s first season in Components 1 was to persuade Mercedes administration that it had made the correct selection by turning to {the teenager} as its long-term substitute for seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
It was a daring selection that was not with out its dangers, however Mercedes knew this getting into. “We’re conscious that he’ll face many difficulties,” workforce boss Toto Wolff stated in September 2024.
Nevertheless, the workforce could not have envisaged simply how attempting Antonelli’s maiden marketing campaign would change into amid difficulties with the automobile’s ill-fated suspension upgrades and big public consideration at his residence races, all a part of a character-building European season that required a full reset from its prodigy.
However Antonelli did reply to the problem and got here out the opposite facet in a single piece, strengthened by the expertise and displaying greater than sufficient glimpses of his sheer expertise, which was by no means doubtful.
One yr on, Antonelli remains to be on the correct trajectory to change into a number one F1 driver, and the difficulties he confronted have change into a helpful basis of expertise on which he can construct his profession, he tells Motorsport.com’s Roberto Chinchero.
Motorsport.com: How totally different is the Kimi Antonelli of Melbourne from the one who has simply completed his first season in Components 1?
Andrea Kimi Antonelli: Very totally different. I can say that he has modified loads. Once I suppose again to Melbourne at this time, I bear in mind how tense I used to be within the automobile. At the moment, it is fully totally different. I’ve grown loads mentally. I really feel I have been on a journey that has made me extra mature in each means.
The stress was on Andrea Kimi Antonelli from his first race in Australia
Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photos
MS: You needed to overcome many obstacles in a brief period of time; an intense season of 24 races unfold over 10 months. Might you divide your debut season in several phases?
KA: There was a primary part, which I’d say was constructive, beginning in Melbourne and ending with the Canadian Grand Prix. It was a interval of nice studying, I needed to familiarise myself with the world of Components 1 by going by means of a number of new experiences, many greater than I may have imagined earlier than the beginning of the season.
After Montreal, a troublesome interval started, a part through which I did not see the progress I anticipated. That additionally had an affect on my morale, it was mentally powerful. Beginning in Baku, the season returned to what I wished it to be. Now I can say that overcoming a troublesome interval gave me an additional psychological enhance. Placing these very powerful months behind me was not a given; it was a troublesome however helpful check.
MS: The Monza weekend was particularly troublesome, with Toto Wolff publicly criticising your type. What modified after that weekend?
KA: The return to the previous rear suspension, which occurred at Zandvoort, helped me loads, however the turning level was above all a psychological reset. I went again to fundamentals – driving effectively, doing the correct issues each time I acquired within the automobile, similar to earlier than. Throughout that troublesome interval, I had misplaced my path a bit of. There was a number of frustration, and I began considering an excessive amount of concerning the closing outcome.
Each time I acquired within the automobile, I put a number of stress on myself and did not give attention to driving effectively, doing the correct issues, bettering nook after nook. All this made me extra tense, and the outcomes nonetheless weren’t coming. After Monza, there was a gathering between me, Toto and Bono (Peter Bonnington, Antonelli’s race engineer), and after that assembly, I informed myself that I needed to reset and begin from scratch.
MS: How was that assembly?
KA: They informed me straight to my face what they considered my efficiency, particularly at Monza. Nevertheless it was constructive criticism that I took on board in a constructive means, and that helped me reset and made me decided to say: ‘OK, now issues are going to vary’. And so they did change.
MS: You had already skilled the thrill of your first Components 1 podium in Canada, however as soon as issues did not go effectively, the stress and criticism is inevitably fast to observe too, is not it?
KA: There have been a number of rumours throughout that troublesome interval. I used to be already going by means of an advanced time, and receiving stress from outdoors [rumours about Antonelli’s future and Mercedes’ interest in Max Verstappen] actually did not assist. I used to be conscious that I had a long-term contract, however sure rumours make you suppose loads. These are powerful moments mentally, one thing that stays with you even while you get within the automobile.
Antonelli’s first podium got here in Canada
Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photos through Getty Photos
However rising up means studying to stay with these points, and after a yr I can say that I’ve gained expertise. I’m conscious that there are different obstacles forward of me, however in comparison with a yr in the past, at this time I’ve a clearer imaginative and prescient of what lies forward.
MS: What was your greatest second of the season?
KA: It is troublesome to decide on one. There have been so many nice moments, the primary race in Melbourne, the primary pole place in Miami [for the sprint race], the primary podium in Canada, in addition to the weekend in Brazil. However I feel the very best second is but to return…
MS: And the worst?
KA: The weekend at Spa. I arrived in Belgium in the course of a nasty spell and that weekend was an actual blow.
MS: When did you begin to really feel such as you had been really accountable for the automobile?
KA: In Japan, I felt actually good throughout the second stint of the race. Then in Canada, I had the stress of the McLarens behind me and I knew I could not afford any errors if I wished to complete on the rostrum. I had an identical feeling in Brazil, particularly when Max appeared in my mirrors, after which in Las Vegas…
MS: What occurred in Las Vegas?
KA: For the primary time, I skilled a novel feeling. I needed to make up floor after a disappointing qualifying session, and the one means to do this was to do a really lengthy stint. I discovered my rhythm and began to really feel like I used to be in a tunnel: I used to be doing the whole lot mechanically, with out considering an excessive amount of about it. It was like placing the automobile on autopilot. I used to be driving and I did not have a transparent notion of each motion, the whole lot got here naturally, the whole lot was computerized.
I keep in mind that whereas I used to be experiencing that very particular feeling, it virtually bothered me to listen to Bono’s radio messages as a result of they introduced me again to actuality. They had been clearly helpful data, however they took me out of that tunnel. I skilled a beautiful feeling, driving with out eager about the rest, simply intuition.
Antonelli had a “very particular feeling” whereas racing in Las Vegas
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / LAT Photos through Getty Photos
MS: What recommendation would you give at this time to a Kimi who’s about to start out the 2025 season in Melbourne?
KA: Belief your instincts extra, your talents, the qualities which have allowed you to have this chance. Each time you get within the automobile, be sure to have a ‘killer’ mentality. While you’re on the monitor, face the whole lot head on.
MS: Would you additionally inform him to cease taking a look at social media? You acquired a number of abuse after you had been handed by Lando Norris in Qatar.
KA: I’d inform him to not pay an excessive amount of consideration to what’s stated on social media. There’ll at all times be somebody who criticises you, simply as there shall be tons of people that help you. I’m fortunate to have many supporters, however there are at all times those that attempt to deliver you down and harm you. I’d inform him not to concentrate to those issues. Constructive criticism, the sort that ought to be considered, is the sort that comes from folks you belief, who’re near you. That is the sort that is vital and actually helps you enhance.
MS: Did you ever take a look at George Russell’s time on the monitor throughout qualifying and suppose: “How does he do it?”
KA: Oh yeah, and I’ve no downside admitting that it occurred many occasions. The 2025 technology of automobiles was not straightforward to interpret, nor had been the tyres. On sure events, the restrict was so excessive that I completed a qualifying lap feeling like I had performed a superb job. Then I checked out George’s telemetry, and realised that I may have pushed a lot tougher…
MS: In the meantime Russell was having his greatest yr up to now. Was it useful to have such a excessive performing team-mate?
KA: Completely. There have been occasions after I realised I used to be pushing too onerous, or not onerous sufficient, because of evaluating myself with George. I really consider he is without doubt one of the strongest drivers on the grid, and he has confirmed that many occasions. He had an excellent season, and it helped me loads to know the place you can also make a distinction, for instance in the usage of tyres, and it helped me to push myself additional. I actually loved working alongside him, and generally there’s a good dynamic within the workforce, a wholesome competitors.
MS: You’ve got completed your first world championship. Is life in Components 1 the way you imagined it will be?
KA: I had an thought of what to anticipate from working with the workforce within the 2024 assessments and beginning to do my first advertising and marketing actions. However irrespective of how ready I used to be, I nonetheless felt the affect, and at occasions I struggled a bit. You must be taught to handle your power and discover the rhythm that works greatest to your physique and thoughts.
Coping with so many actions takes away your bodily power however above all of your psychological power, which is why it turns into vital to handle your self in the very best means. If you happen to’re not 100% while you get within the automobile, your efficiency suffers, no query about it.
Antonelli’s rookie season got here to an finish in Abu Dhabi
Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Components 1 through Getty Photos
All in all, I had grasped some points upfront, whereas others required me to readjust a bit of by altering the best way I approached them.
MS: Would you say that the stress in Components 1 is totally different from what you imagined earlier than your debut?
KA: In my case, there was the stress of creating my debut, added to that of racing for a workforce like Mercedes, which is without doubt one of the high groups within the championship. You signify an enormous model; within the Components 1 programme alone, there are 2,000 folks working in direction of a single aim: to win.
So, sure, you are feeling the stress. You recognize you must carry out, since you signify a gaggle of individuals and you’re feeling obliged to repay all of the work the workforce does to give you the very best automobile attainable. Then there’s the stress from the media, in addition to the stress you typically placed on your self earlier than moving into the automobile – that second of pressure, the worry of creating a mistake.
MS: Was there a second when the load of duty affected you?
KA: Not in a worrying means. After a superb begin to the season, I solely secured one level within the constructors’ championship throughout the European part, and at that second I informed myself that I needed to get again on monitor, the workforce wanted my contribution too. Ultimately it went effectively, we completed second.
MS: Have you ever realized to flee the stress of the general public and the media by saying “no” typically? Your own home debut in Imola was very intense.
KA: Not fully. I am beginning to do it, however I admit that typically I nonetheless discover it troublesome and really feel a bit of responsible. However I’ve realised that the precedence is to carry out at your greatest each time you might be on the monitor, and to do this you must be 100%, bodily and mentally. With the gaps we have seen this yr, each little mistake has had enormous penalties.
In the end, as a driver, you additionally must know when to say ‘no’. It is one thing I am nonetheless studying, however I’ve realised how vital it’s. It is a part of rising up.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Components 1 through Getty Photos
MS: Of the few free weekends you had, you continue to spent a number of in a paddock, even in MotoGP! Does that depend as break day?
KA: I will proceed to do it as a result of, ultimately, it is one thing I love to do. I am completely happy after I’m on the monitor with a kart, with remote-controlled automobiles, but in addition after I go to look at a MotoGP weekend. I’ve a number of associates and I am a fan, and despite the fact that it will be good to have the ability to stroll across the paddock in peace, ultimately I do not give it a lot thought. I’m going from my associates at Aprilia to Ducati, from Yamaha to others, I wish to say hey to everybody I do know. Then there are Sundays after I wish to keep at residence on my simulator.
It at all times depends upon the second. I feel it is vital to do one thing you take pleasure in and that makes you are feeling good. It is a means that helps me clear my thoughts.
MS: We’re on the eve of a brand new period for Components 1. What are your expectations for the brand new laws?
KA: I’m very excited, and I consider it will likely be an excellent alternative for the groups in addition to for us drivers. I hope to have a superb automobile, I’ve nice confidence within the workforce, my dream is to have the ability to struggle for victories and be within the a part of the standings that gives an opportunity on the championship.
If I’ve a aggressive automobile, it will likely be as much as me to make the distinction, and I actually hope to be in that situation. It will likely be crucial to do a number of work on the simulator, and whoever manages to search out the correct stability earlier than the others can have an enormous benefit.
MS: Based mostly on the assessments you’ve got performed, do you suppose you’ll have to change your driving type?
KA: We’ll all be ranging from scratch, and that’s one thing that motivates me loads. If you happen to can perceive one thing earlier than the others, you’ll be able to actually make a distinction, even on the subject of small particulars. I’ve tried the automobile on the simulator, and it’ll require a barely totally different type, someplace between this yr’s and the earlier technical cycle, so it is going to take some adapting when it comes to driving and energy unit administration, but it surely’s all very thrilling. I will swap off for some time, I wish to relaxation and calmly mirror on the season that has simply ended. However on the similar time, I can not wait to get again to making ready for 2026, I’ve an excellent season forward of me.
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