Although Andrea Kimi Antonelli finished outside the points at the 2025 Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix, the young Italian driver was still quite satisfied with his performance and the sensations he experienced during the race. Despite finishing in 16th position, Antonelli showed glimpses of promise with a series of solid laps and several impressive overtakes during the race at Spa-Francorchamps.
One of the key factors contributing to his improved performance on Sunday was a new rear wing configuration that the team fitted to his Mercedes single-seater. With this aerodynamic change, Antonelli said he felt significantly more comfortable at the wheel and managed to regain some of the confidence he had lost during the tough and emotional qualifying session on Saturday.
For the young Mercedes talent, Saturday’s qualifying was a particularly difficult moment, so much so that it almost brought him to tears. However, the race turned out to be a valuable learning experience and gave him renewed motivation ahead of the next round of the championship — the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Reflections After Spa
The Belgian Grand Prix was challenging right from the start. Due to heavy rainfall, the beginning of the race was delayed by an hour. Once the green flag was shown, the race officially got underway behind the safety car, with four laps completed before the drivers were allowed to race freely.
Antonelli, having started from the pit lane due to modifications made under parc fermé conditions, began the Grand Prix from the very back of the grid. Despite this disadvantage, he approached the race with determination and enjoyed battling his way through the field. His overtaking maneuvers and racecraft provided entertaining moments, even if he ultimately fell short of scoring championship points.
Reflecting on his race, Kimi Antonelli admitted: “To be honest, it was quite frustrating having to do all those overtakes. But once I had some clean air, I actually had fun. With this new rear wing, the car gave me better feedback, especially in the middle sector of the circuit.”
He added: “It’s just a shame that we were too penalised on the straights. We also struggled a lot to keep the car on track. But in the end, it was an important lesson, and now our focus shifts to Budapest.”
When asked about his overall impression of the weekend, Antonelli was candid. Saturday was clearly a low point, but Sunday’s improvement left him more optimistic.
The number 12 Mercedes driver explained: “Today I definitely had more confidence in the car. With the new rear wing, I had more stability, which helped a lot. The car also felt more connected, and that made a difference.”
He concluded his post-race comments with a look ahead to the Hungarian Grand Prix: “Yes, today’s race gave me back some of the confidence I needed. But now it’s time to really work hard for qualifying, because starting up front changes everything. In Budapest, qualifying is even more critical, as overtaking is extremely difficult. We must aim for a strong Saturday performance.”
The Spa weekend, though short of points, may mark a psychological turning point for Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who now looks to carry the momentum into Hungary, where a solid qualifying result could finally unlock a points-scoring finish.
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