Title: Mercedes F1 Driver Kimi Antonelli Faces Confidence Issues Amid Car Struggles
Date: [Insert Date]
Location: Belgian Grand Prix
Mercedes’ engineering director Andrew Shovlin has attributed Kimi Antonelli’s declining performance to recent difficulties with the team’s 2025 car. Antonelli, a rookie driver, has secured only one point-scoring finish in the past seven races, with his sole podium achieved in Canada, where teammate George Russell claimed victory. Four race retirements during this stretch have raised concerns about the Italian’s confidence and adaptability in challenging conditions.
Shovlin highlighted the experience gap between Antonelli and Russell as a significant factor impacting performance. “George is leveraging his extensive experience to extract maximum potential from a difficult machine in qualifying. Kimi, however, lacks that same backing,” Shovlin stated, emphasizing the need for the team to address the car’s weaknesses rather than focusing solely on Antonelli’s performance.
Despite the setbacks, Shovlin remains optimistic about Antonelli’s abilities, noting his talent when the car performs well. “Kimi is on a steep learning curve. We’ve seen enough talent from him to believe he will improve as a driver,” he remarked.
Shovlin confirmed that ongoing developments have shifted the W16’s consistency, which could affect overall competitiveness. He reiterated the team’s commitment to enhancing Antonelli’s performance through strategic engineering support, stating, “We’re finding significant time in sessions, largely as George learns to understand the car’s limits.”
As Mercedes navigates this challenging season, both drivers’ ability to adapt to the evolving dynamics of the W16 will be critical for the team’s success moving forward.
