Kimi Antonelli takes a step back ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix in order to finish the first part of the Formula 1 season in the best possible way with the Mercedes team.
Before the long three-week summer break that follows the race in Hungary, the young Italian driver has set himself a very clear goal: to regain confidence in his Mercedes W16 single-seater. The last few rounds of the Formula 1 World Championship have been far from easy for the rookie representing the Silver Arrows, who has struggled to replicate the promising performances he showed during the opening stages of the 2025 season.
In recent races, the results have not lived up to expectations, and Antonelli arrives at the Hungaroring circuit determined to reverse the trend. His recent form has been below par compared to the standards he set for himself at the start of the year, and now the team is looking for answers.
Reverting to the old suspension system
One of the key elements behind the recent difficulties appears to be the new suspension system introduced on his car. According to statements made by the 18-year-old Italian driver, Mercedes will be returning to the older suspension setup for the Hungarian Grand Prix in an effort to resolve the handling issues he has been facing.
Kimi Antonelli explained that they are hoping this step backward will help recover the car’s previous balance and responsiveness: “We hope this will bring back the good feeling,” he told F1 media. He added that the primary objective is to achieve a solid qualifying performance and to try to drive with more confidence and consistency throughout the race weekend.
He further elaborated on the challenges posed by the new suspension: “Since we installed the updated suspension components, the car has become a bit harder to drive, especially on circuits where high speeds are involved. This includes fast corners and sections of the track that combine multiple high-speed turns, where the balance becomes more critical.”
The Italian driver also admitted that his personal driving style may have exacerbated the situation. “Because of my specific driving characteristics, I was making the car even more unpredictable. That ended up damaging my confidence behind the wheel, and I lost a bit of trust in how the car behaves at the limit.”
Despite the recent setbacks and difficulties, Kimi Antonelli remains focused and determined to end the first half of his rookie season on a positive note. “I’ve done my best to prepare for the race weekend, and right now I feel good. I’m really happy to be here and I’m ready to give everything I’ve got before heading into the summer break,” he concluded.
Antonelli and Mercedes hope that reverting to the previous suspension configuration will restore the car’s handling to a level that allows the young Italian to perform at his full potential. The Hungarian Grand Prix could prove to be a turning point in his development as he continues his learning path in Formula 1.
Leave a Reply