Kimi Antonelli has been going through a rough patch in his first season in Formula 1 after taking over Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes. It was kind of expected for the young driver, given the circumstances. While there was celebration in one part of the Mercedes garage in Singapore, there was also disappointment on the other side. It felt like a missed opportunity, a failure to capitalize on a good position.
The Silver Arrows showed impressive speed at the Marina Bay Circuit, with George Russell securing pole position and winning the race. Russell has been shining this season, stepping out of Hamilton’s shadow to lead the team effectively. On the other hand, Antonelli was always expected to struggle in comparison. The teenager was fast-tracked into F1 due to Hamilton’s move to Ferrari, and team principal Toto Wolff made it clear that this would be a learning year with low expectations for results.
Antonelli started strong with a fourth-place finish in Melbourne and several top-six finishes in the early races. However, he faced burnout after the European leg of the season, with multiple retirements and low point-scoring performances. Despite a podium finish in Canada, his form suffered during the European races. The Italian driver struggled to manage his energy and external distractions, leading to inconsistent results.
Moving into the Asian races, Antonelli showed signs of improvement with a fourth-place finish in Baku and a fifth-place finish in Singapore. However, he felt he could have done better in Singapore, expressing disappointment in his performance. Despite being overshadowed by Russell’s success, Mercedes remains confident in Antonelli’s potential. The team sees his self-criticism and drive for perfection as qualities that could lead him to greatness in the future.
Maybe it’s just me, but Antonelli’s results this season might not look great on paper compared to Russell’s dominance. The Brit has outperformed his teammate significantly, with a stark difference in points. Antonelli has struggled to out-qualify Russell and finish ahead of him in races, raising doubts about his performance. However, Mercedes is not concerned about his current struggles and plans to offer him a contract for the next season.
Despite the challenges faced by Antonelli in his rookie season, Mercedes believes in his potential to succeed in Formula 1. The team values his mentality and determination to improve, seeing him as a future star in the sport. While it hasn’t been a smooth ride for Antonelli this year, his team’s unwavering support signals a promising future ahead.
