Kimi Antonelli Reflects on Rookie Season and Support from Mercedes
Kimi Antonelli, the 18-year-old Italian driver, has expressed gratitude for the supportive approach taken by Mercedes during his challenging rookie season in Formula 1. Joining the team this year alongside George Russell, Antonelli transitioned from Formula Regional but has faced difficulties, scoring only a single point across seven European races.
“I feel I’m in a very lucky position because I’m able, despite being in a top team, to do my learning without too much pressure,” Antonelli stated, emphasizing the team’s lenient expectations. He acknowledged the innate drive to compete for wins, expressing disappointment in his own performance but highlighting the team’s unwavering support as crucial for his development.
The patience exhibited by team principal Toto Wolff and the rest of the Mercedes staff has been instrumental, with Antonelli noting, “They’ve been trying to protect me, and I never felt any pressure from the team.” While acknowledging self-imposed pressure, he reinforced that the team has generally maintained a supportive atmosphere, providing him the necessary space to improve.
As he awaits confirmation on a potential contract extension, Antonelli remains focused on overcoming the hurdles of his inaugural season. “It’s more about me injecting pain on myself by putting on too much pressure,” he admitted, underscoring the importance of managing self-expectations while driving for a prominent team.
Ultimately, Antonelli’s commitment to learning and his candid awareness of his challenges suggest a promising trajectory as he strives to align performance with the expectations of a top-tier team.
