Kimi Antonelli has stated that achieving his first Formula 1 podium at the Canadian Grand Prix has given him greater confidence and eased the tension he felt during his rookie season. The 18-year-old Italian driver earned third place in Montreal, marking a significant milestone in his debut campaign with Mercedes.

Antonelli’s podium finish coincided with his teammate George Russell winning the race, securing Mercedes’ best result of the year so far. This achievement follows Antonelli’s close attempts at podium finishes earlier in the season, notably at the Miami Grand Prix, where he narrowly missed a top-three spot. Now, Antonelli believes this breakthrough will allow him to adopt a more aggressive and focused approach during race weekends, especially in qualifying sessions.

How the Canadian Podium Influenced Antonelli’s Mindset

Antonelli described his achievement in Canada as a pivotal moment in his F1 career. He explained that previously he had come close to earning a podium but was held back by mental pressure and cautious driving, particularly during practice sessions. According to him, the podium is a significant relief and a source of encouragement that will help him remain more relaxed while racing.

Canada was really important to me,

Antonelli told media including Crash.net.

It was a big relief, but as well it was important because there were a couple of times in the season where I came close to the podium.

He added that this milestone will free him to take more risks earlier in race weekends, helping him get a better handle on car performance sooner. Antonelli noted that during qualifying, where there is very little time to explore and adapt, he had often arrived with many questions about the car’s grip and setup, at times limiting his performance.

In qualifying you don’t really have much time because it’s only one lap on the tyre and then that’s it.

Overcoming Setbacks from Early Career Challenges

Antonelli’s rookie campaign was not without setbacks. During his Formula 1 debut at Monza last year, the young driver crashed his Mercedes in the FP1 session at the Parabolica corner after just five laps. This incident affected his mindset, making him overly cautious in subsequent sessions to avoid further mistakes.

Reflecting on this, Antonelli admitted he had “overcorrected” by being too safe, especially during practice, where he often waited until late in the session to set competitive lap times. This cautious approach limited his chances to adapt and fine-tune his performance early in the weekend.

I was a bit too conservative, especially in FPs because if you look at the trend in FP, I would always arrive quite late into the session,

he explained.

I would always put the time quite late in the session just because it kind of required me many laps to get there.

He continued,

Obviously, I truly believe I overcorrected after what happened in Monza and now I’m a bit too safe. I’m a bit on the safe side.

Antonelli sees the recent result in Montreal as an important step to adjust his strategy and push the limits further, particularly during practice sessions. He emphasized the importance of preparing well for qualifying, where the differences between drivers can be measured in mere tenths of a second.

That’s why I think, results like this also help you to move forward and to make the step. Now is the time to do the step because you know nowadays F1 is super tight, especially when you see qualifying, the gaps are just so close that even a tenth can put you on the back foot.

So I think now is the time, especially in practice, to get back a bit closer to Monza. Not exactly like Monza, but get closer to that in order to arrive ready in quali.

Next Phases of Antonelli’s Formula 1 Season

With confidence restored and a clearer understanding of his driving strategy, Antonelli aims to take measured steps to improve his performance throughout the remainder of his rookie year. His experience alongside teammate George Russell and the support of Mercedes serve as valuable resources as he continues to develop.

The upcoming races will test Antonelli’s ability to apply his lessons from Montreal, pushing both his instincts and technical skills to maintain consistent podium challenges. His approach to practice and qualifying will be key areas where he intends to focus, aiming to reduce uncertainties and enhance speed.

This newfound mindset could influence not only his personal growth but also Mercedes’ competitiveness in a closely matched Formula 1 field. As the season progresses, Antonelli’s evolution will be watched closely by fans and analysts eager to see if this breakthrough moment marks the start of a successful F1 career.