Kimi Antonelli admits: “I needed two kicks in the rear after Monza”. Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli opens up about his European struggles in F1.

The F1 debut

Among this season’s rookies, the driver who seemed destined to make a difference behind the wheel of the Mercedes was Andrea Kimi Antonelli. He confirmed pre-season expectations from the very first race in Australia with an impressive fourth-place finish in wet conditions. He consistently scored points (except in Bahrain) even on tracks where he had no prior experience, hinting at a potential breakout once Formula 1 reached Europe. However, unexpectedly, the Italian driver struggled to maintain the same consistency in Europe, compounded by several retirements due to technical issues.

The European slump

Ironically, Kimi Antonelli secured the first podium of his career in Canada, without ever shining in Europe, where he scored only three points across nine races. “It feels very strange. I thought my European experience would help me,” he told Blick. “But then reality hit me, and it surprised me. I expected certain things that never happened — completely different scenarios every time. I quickly learned that every race weekend unfolds differently. I had to immediately integrate many situations into my routine that I had never encountered before. I had to manage my energy throughout long days. There were marketing appearances, media obligations, discussions with engineers, and, above all, staying focused and moving quickly in the Mercedes. Mechanical problems didn’t help, but they didn’t tell the full story either. We had some mechanical issues, and with the new suspension, I simply couldn’t find my rhythm. I didn’t feel comfortable in the cockpit because nothing seemed to click anymore. This made me even more nervous. I constantly put pressure on myself, overdid it, and made mistakes I normally would never make.”

The turning point at Monza

To make matters worse, the lowest point for Antonelli during the European tour came at Monza, his home Grand Prix weekend. The 19-year-old finished only ninth, but that weekend became a turning point. “My boss, Toto Wolff, and my father — they really gave me a kick in the rear after Monza,” he revealed. “Those verbal reprimands and advice hurt, but I needed to reset. I had to focus on the important things to get back to my old form. I would never have gotten out of that mess on my own. Even a long meeting with my engineers helped me.”

This dual wake-up call paid off for Kimi Antonelli, who achieved his best F1 result with a second-place finish at Interlagos, once again on a track he had never previously driven.