Mercedes have expressed their satisfaction with Kimi Antonelli’s development in his first Formula 1 season. The Italian teenager is now adapting faster to race weekends after starting the year with “a degree of caution.”
Antonelli’s rise from F4 to F1 took just over three years. In 2025, he earned a race seat at Mercedes, partnering seasoned Grand Prix winner George Russell. The 18-year-old made an immediate impression in Australia, climbing from 16th to finish fourth. But in the following rounds, his form varied.
Key Breakthroughs in Debut Year
A turning point came when Antonelli secured pole in Sprint Qualifying at Miami and claimed his first podium in Canada. Reflecting on the season, he admitted his approach may have been “too safe” after a high-profile practice crash at Monza in 2024.
Mercedes Technical Director James Allison echoed that thought.
“We talk about this a bit internally, and it may just be more gossip than reality, but the trip into the barrier at Monza, I think that may have just left him approaching the weekends with a degree of caution as a result. We’ve been encouraging him to sort of trust [his] talent: ‘You can lean into that more than you think you can’. As he gets the confidence to do that, he’s finding his feet more quickly during the weekend.”
Guidance from an Experienced Teammate
Antonelli currently holds seventh place in the Drivers’ Championship on 64 points. Russell is fourth with 172 points, thanks to one win and five more podiums. Allison described Russell’s form as “a brilliant apprenticeship” for Antonelli.
“George has barely put a foot wrong… That’s obviously giving Kimi a very high standard to shoot for. I’m pleased with the fact that Kimi… has been able to get close to George as the weekend’s gone on.”
Mercedes have also switched back to an older suspension design after an unsuccessful update. The change helped Antonelli return to the points in Hungary, boosting his self-belief.
With growing confidence, improved pace, and Russell setting a benchmark, Mercedes see Antonelli’s rookie campaign as a solid foundation for his F1 future.
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