Kimi Antonelli discussed his debut season in Formula 1, sharing both the high points and the challenges he faced. In an interview with Roberto Chinchero for Motorsport.com, the Italian driver offered insight into his journey, highlighting what helped him improve and the obstacles he encountered along the way.
Antonelli: “Today I’m a completely different driver”
When Kimi Antonelli compares his Melbourne self with the driver who just finished his first F1 season, he doesn’t hesitate:
“A lot has changed. If I think back to Melbourne, I remember how tense I was in the car; today it’s completely different. The first part of the year, from Melbourne to Canada, was positive. It was a period of intense learning—I had to get familiar with the world of Formula 1 and experience so many new things, far more than I could have imagined.”
However, after Montreal, things started to stall. Kimi Antonelli entered a challenging phase, perhaps the toughest of the season:
“I wasn’t seeing the progress I expected, and that affected my morale. It was mentally tough.”
The lowest point at Spa, followed by a reset at Monza
His most difficult moment came at Spa during this period of uncertainty:
“I arrived in Belgium at my lowest point, and that weekend was a real blow. During this tough period, there were many rumors about my future. Even though I knew I had a long-term contract, certain speculations can really occupy your mind.”
The turning point came after Monza. Kimi Antonelli openly speaks about a “mental reset” sparked by a direct discussion with Toto Wolff and Bono:
“They told me face-to-face what they thought about my performances, especially in Monza. It was tough criticism, but constructive, and I took it positively. I told myself I had to start from scratch, refocus on the basics: drive well, do the right things every time I got in the car. I was thinking too much about the final result, putting a lot of pressure on myself, and not focusing on improving corner by corner. That tension kept growing, and the results just weren’t coming.”
By stripping things back to basics, Kimi Antonelli found renewed clarity in the final races of the season. The approach not only steadied his performances but also laid stronger foundations for his sophomore year in 2026, when major regulation changes could shake up the competitive order. For a driver who arrived with enormous expectations, this honest self-assessment shows impressive maturity and sets the stage for what many believe will be a breakout campaign ahead.
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