Andrea Kimi Antonelli admits he is still finding the limits of the Mercedes W16 F1 car. Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli admits he is still searching for the performance limits of his car.

Kimi Antonelli hunts for the limit in his F1 debut

Andrea Kimi Antonelli is facing a challenging start to his Formula 1 career with Mercedes in the 2025 season. Across the first six European Grand Prix rounds, the young Italian driver has managed to score only a single championship point. His difficulties have been compounded by technical issues, including an updated suspension system that proved ineffective and actually worsened the car’s performance. This has made Kimi Antonelli’s task on track significantly more demanding as he continues to adapt to the top level of motorsport.

In an exclusive interview with Auto, Motor und Sport, Kimi Antonelli opened up about his ongoing struggle to find the absolute limit of his Mercedes W16 and the challenge of consistently extracting maximum performance.

Searching for the ultimate limit

“During a flying lap, the grip is extremely high, and you take corners at speeds far greater than in the race,” Kimi Antonelli explained. “Every single lap, it feels like you are going faster and faster. However, I have not yet reached the point where I hit the absolute limit on the first lap. I am still trying to understand exactly where that limit lies. The difficulty is that in qualifying sessions, there aren’t many opportunities to work on it thoroughly. Additionally, the limit itself constantly changes depending on track and weather conditions, but I am continuing to push myself to improve and learn as much as possible.”

Kimi Antonelli’s comments underline the steep learning curve faced by rookie drivers in Formula 1, particularly when dealing with complex technical updates and highly competitive machinery. His dedication to understanding the car’s maximum potential highlights both his talent and determination to succeed in the sport.

As Mercedes continues to develop its car throughout the 2025 season, Andrea Kimi Antonelli remains focused on finding that elusive balance between pushing the limits and maintaining consistency, aiming to translate his potential into stronger results in the races ahead.