“That was a really terrible moment”: why Kimi Antonelli changed his approach with Mercedes. Why Kimi Antonelli had to rethink his driving philosophy at Mercedes.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli is among the best rookies currently in F1, but his approach with Mercedes has evolved over time. Pushing the limits is always a priority for any driver, but it must be done carefully. As seen with Oliver Bearman in Melbourne, young drivers coming from Formula 2 must learn to manage Free Practice sessions effectively.

Australia and China have already tested the many rookies in this season’s grid. Andrea Kimi Antonelli has passed with flying colors, consistently finishing in the points with Mercedes despite significant floor damage that compromised his race in Shanghai. Oliver Bearman, Isack Hadjar, and Gabriel Bortoleto have also performed well, while Jack Doohan and Liam Lawson have yet to prove themselves.

It is still too early for definitive judgments. Formula 1 is a different world compared to junior categories, making quick and efficient adaptation far from guaranteed. The many incidents in Melbourne prove this: rookies need time and, when necessary, must adjust or change their approach to driving.

Kimi Antonelli and the crash that changed everything
Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s first appearance in front of the Italian crowd during FP1 at Monza ended almost immediately. After just a few laps, the young driver from Bologna lost control of the Mercedes he had “borrowed” from George Russell, crashing at Parabolica. As Toto Wolff described it, the car was reduced to a “box of Lego.”

“That was a terrible moment for me, but I learned from it,” Kimi Antonelli told RacingNews365. “I’ve changed a lot as a person, but also as a driver, in the way I approach a race weekend.” – the Italian pointed out – “I’m not going to lie—when I went out on track at Monza, I was pushing without fear, as if it were a Q3 lap. I wanted to go to the limit without thinking about anything else. But I realized it’s better to build up the pace progressively, lap by lap, especially in conditions like those, where the track is dirty and slippery.”

“When you make mistakes like that, you take more steps backward than forward. I really had to change my approach. I still want to reach the limit, but in a smarter way.”