Kimi Antonelli warns: “Many people only talk about our engine power, but we are very strong with the chassis as well”
The race weekend is now just around the corner as Formula 1 heads to the Monaco Grand Prix. After five consecutive Mercedes victories, the Principality appears, at least on paper, to offer rivals their first genuine opportunity to break the dominance of the W17 after three months of near-total supremacy.
The streets of Monte Carlo could represent a major chance for teams still searching for their first win of the season, as power unit performance is expected to have a much smaller impact than usual. With very short straights and a succession of slow-speed corners, Monaco should theoretically favour teams that have struggled against the benchmark power unit produced in Brixworth.
However, not everyone believes Mercedes will be at a disadvantage this weekend. Formula 1 championship leader Kimi Antonelli is convinced that the W17’s strengths extend far beyond the combination of internal combustion engine performance and KERS deployment. According to the Italian driver, Mercedes also possesses one of the strongest chassis packages on the grid.
“On our side, the team is doing a really great job. Unfortunately, a lot of people only talk about the potential of our engine, but I have to say that our chassis is also performing extremely well. We are very strong in the corners and we are also very gentle on the tyres. From a chassis point of view as well, we are in a very good position,” Antonelli said during the press conference held last weekend at the Trofeo Bandini event.
During this weekend, it will also become clear which power unit manufacturers will be eligible for ADUO assistance and to what extent, depending on the percentage gap to the benchmark engine, which is currently Mercedes.
Kimi Antonelli believes Ferrari has all the ingredients needed to reduce the gap to Mercedes. The SF-26 chassis has looked competitive since winter testing, and that has been evident throughout the opening phase of the season. If Ferrari succeeds in improving the performance of its hybrid V6 power unit, the competitive landscape could begin to change once the upgraded engine becomes available.
“We will see which teams receive ADUO support. Ferrari looks like one of them. If those teams are able to make the most of that opportunity, they will certainly get closer. Ferrari is also in a good position when it comes to the chassis.”
“At the moment, Ferrari seems to struggle a bit more during races when tyre degradation becomes a factor. But if they bring a developed engine, they will definitely move closer. I don’t think it will be easy because finding additional power from an engine is never simple.”
“But I think they can close the gap significantly if they manage to find the right solution. They could certainly put us under pressure. That said, right now I am very confident in the work my team is doing, and that gives me a lot of motivation as a driver.”
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