Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the young Italian driver for Mercedes, is experiencing a significant confidence crisis during the 2024 Formula 1 season, as shown by his early exit in Q1 at the Belgian Grand Prix. After starting the season strongly with a sprint pole in Miami and steady top-six finishes, Antonelli’s recent performances have faltered, culminating in his 20th place in sprint qualifying and a pitlane start at Spa-Francorchamps.
Recent Results Highlight Antonelli’s Declining Form
Despite a promising launch to his rookie campaign, Antonelli has struggled over the last six races, scoring points only once with a podium finish in Montreal. Throughout this period, he was also outqualified every time by his teammate George Russell. At the Belgian GP weekend, his difficulties became even clearer when a spin in sprint qualifying derailed his chances, resulting in one of Mercedes’ worst-ever qualifying outcomes.
Though he remained on track during Saturday’s main qualifying session, Antonelli could only secure an 18th place starting position. His lap time was 0.355 seconds off Russell’s pace and 0.231 seconds behind the cutoff to 15th, set by Gabriel Bortoleto. This was despite Mercedes’ adjustments to the car’s setup which Antonelli noted had put the car
“in a better place compared to yesterday.”
Antonelli Openly Admits Confidence and Driving Issues
In a candid post-qualifying interview, Antonelli expressed his frustrations about his current performance and the state of his confidence.
“Since the European season I’ve been struggling to find confidence with the car and I feel like I’ve done a backward step,”
he said, clearly distraught.
He also shared how the recent errors have negatively affected his mindset.
“It’s a difficult moment for me because I feel like I have no confidence on pushing. Yesterday I tried to push a bit too much and then I spun, and then it kind of hurts the confidence even more.”
Antonelli added,
“With the way I’m driving, I’m just increasing the problem. And that gives me even less confidence with the car.”
His struggles appear rooted in a forced driving style that prevents him from feeling natural behind the wheel.
“On my side I’m probably trying to change the way I’m driving too much,”
he admitted.
“And it feels like I’m not driving naturally. It’s very forced, the way I’m driving, and it’s just difficult.”
Seeking Stability: Antonelli’s Path to Reclaiming Confidence
Antonelli identified stability as key to overcoming his problems, acknowledging that his aggressive inputs might not be helping.
“With the way I drive, I’m a bit more aggressive with the inputs compared to George,”
he explained, pointing out his tendency to carry more speed into corners.
He stressed the delicate balance he is trying to find between aggressive driving and car control:
“So on my side I’m trying to change a little bit the way I’m driving to also have the balance. Because, of course, it’s impossible to have the perfect balance. I’m just trying to work on that side, but it’s not easy.”
Pitlane Start Opens Opportunity for Adjustments
Due to his 18th place qualifying spot, Antonelli will start the Belgian Grand Prix from the pitlane. Although this is a setback, it offers a chance for Mercedes to modify his car’s setup to suit the changing weather conditions, with rain expected during the race afternoon.
Looking ahead, Antonelli remains hopeful that these adjustments will restore his confidence.
“I’ll try to find the light out of the tunnel as soon as possible,”
he said, signaling his determination to overcome this difficult phase and improve his form.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is number 13 banned in F1?
A. Yes, drivers can choose the number 13. Pastor Maldonado picked #13 when the fixed number system started in 2014. Although some cultures see it as unlucky, F1 lets drivers decide.
Q. Which F1 driver has ADHD?
A. Lewis Hamilton’s experiences with ADHD and dyslexia have impacted his life both in racing and outside of it. His journey challenges the traditional idea of success in F1 and highlights the importance of acknowledging learning differences.
Q. Is 69 allowed in F1?
A. F1 drivers can select a permanent racing number between 2 and 99, but they cannot choose 17. This number remains theirs for their entire F1 career.