After regaining confidence in the W16, Kimi Antonelli is now searching for the right approach to race weekends. Following his podium in Canada, Antonelli has collected only three points in six races since June. After a strong start to the season, the Bolognese driver experienced a difficult mid-season, caused by multiple factors rather than a single issue. Initially, he struggled with the introduction of Mercedes’ new rear suspension, which highlighted differences in driving style compared to George Russell. Returning to the old specification helped Antonelli regain confidence in the W16, while he now faces the challenge of finding the proper balance in his weekend approach.
Early issues with updates
Antonelli has faced difficulties over the past three months, contrasting with a strong opening part of the season. His season highlight remains the podium in Canada, preceded by pole in the Miami Sprint, results far better than the current form. “The point is that in the first six races I had basically the same car,” Antonelli explained. “We only brought minor updates, so the car remained consistent. Having the same car helps a lot in building confidence and understanding its behavior. By the sixth race in Miami, I felt very confident, progressed over the weekend, and was able to show my potential in qualifying.”
Problems emerged with the new rear suspension introduced at Imola, which affected the drivability of the W16. Except for Montreal, the competitiveness of the Silver Arrows was no longer the same, and Antonelli struggled the most. “I started having trouble with my driving and had to try a style that didn’t come naturally. I couldn’t really adapt, which is why I struggled so much. Looking back, it’s very clear,” he said.
Differences from Russell
The experience allowed George Russell to adapt more easily to changes than his young teammate, but it also highlighted the differences between the two Mercedes drivers. “We have very different driving styles,” Antonelli explained. “I demand more from the car, especially at corner entry, so I need a rear that stays stable. In terms of setup, we are similar but still different, because each of us needs something different from the car.”
Antonelli is an aggressive corner-entry driver, without sacrificing entry for a better exit. His style relies on rotating the car toward the apex, requiring a car that follows without instability at the rear. Antonelli’s aggressive driving amplified the W16’s rear instability caused by the new suspension, leaving him struggling with an unpredictable car and lacking confidence to push to the limit. The Canadian podium, a race also won by George Russell, was the exception confirming the rule, on a track without high-speed corners that masked the updated Mercedes’ instability.
Finding the right balance
The team’s decision to return to the old suspension from Hungary improved both drivers’ feelings, especially Antonelli’s, but results remained below expectations. In particular, at Zandvoort and Monza, Antonelli experienced double incidents in practice, missing entire Friday sessions and compromising weekend preparation. These mistakes reflected his attempt to adopt a more aggressive approach, experimenting from day one to make a step forward in qualifying compared to the first half of the season.
“I arrived on Saturday with too many questions,” Kimi Antonelli reflected in Austria. “It’s about understanding the grip limit better. In Canada, I felt I wasn’t using maximum grip every lap, and when that happens, you’re always chasing—you never know where the limit is. That’s why it’s important to feel it during practice.” In the early months, Antonelli was still affected by his Monza 2024 free practice crash, approaching weekends cautiously, which limited his preparation: “Sometimes I was too conservative, and it penalized me. For example, I often felt more comfortable in the race than in qualifying.”
To make a qualitative leap, Antonelli is now looking for the fine line between a cautious and overly aggressive approach. Finding it will be crucial in upcoming Baku and Singapore, two street circuits where walls leave no margin for error. Completing a weekend without mistakes would be the first step to ending the results crisis and aiming for a strong finish to the season.
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