Mercedes believes that the recent decline in Kimi Antonelli’s F1 performance is linked to modifications made to their 2025 W16 car. The young Italian rookie has struggled significantly during the European segment of the 2025 season, marked by multiple retirements and finishes outside the points.
Antonelli, 18 years old, has faced a tough stretch with four retirements and six finishes outside the top 10 in the last seven races. His only bright spot came in Canada, where he secured a podium, standing out amid his otherwise difficult run.
Andrew Shovlin, Mercedes’ trackside engineering director, suggested that alterations to the car have impacted Antonelli more severely than his more experienced teammate George Russell. Shovlin remarked,
“I think what you’ve seen in the recent qualifyings is that George is leaning on his many years of experience in an F1 car to try and make the most of a difficult car,”
after the Belgian Grand Prix.
He highlighted the contrast between the two drivers’ ability to adapt, stating,
“Kimi hasn’t got that to drop back on, and that’s probably why you’ve seen a bit of a shift in his results recently.”
Shovlin acknowledged the team’s awareness of the problem and their focus on returning the car’s handling to a more familiar and stable setup.
Despite the struggles, Antonelli remains supported by the engineering team, with Shovlin noting,
“Kimi’s had a few tough weekends, but he’s getting a lot of engineering support from Bono and the engineers on that side of the garage.”
He emphasized that the underlying issue lies in the car’s weaknesses rather than Antonelli’s driving skills.
Shovlin elaborated on Russell’s experience, saying,
“It’s just because George is learning to know when he can trust the car and [he] can lean on it, but he’s not getting that feeling from it inherently.”
This insight highlights the gap in experience that appears central to the difference in performance between the two drivers.
Antonelli Confronts a Steep Learning Curve Amid Car Difficulties
During the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, Antonelli was once again outqualified by Russell, marking the eighth consecutive event this has occurred, with Antonelli placing 18th in qualifying and only able to advance to 16th in the race. His evident frustration after failing to get past Q1 at Spa was compounded by his admission that he had sought encouragement from seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
Mercedes remains confident that Antonelli will overcome this rocky phase. Shovlin commented,
“Kimi’s on a steep learning curve and he’s going to be getting better as a driver.”
The team recognizes that the downturn in Antonelli’s results correlates strongly with the car’s declining competitiveness, a trend mirrored by Russell’s struggles as well.
Shovlin pointed out a broader pattern:
“When a young driver comes in and they’re in a very good car, they can often really impress. When a young driver comes in and they’re in a difficult car, it’s very hard to get it together week in, week out.”
He underscored the talent Mercedes has seen in Antonelli despite the current setbacks.
Regarding future improvement, Shovlin suggested that resolving the car’s problems should benefit both drivers, but especially Antonelli, stating,
“But what will help George will also help Kimi, and it will probably help Kimi more.”
Upcoming Challenges and Team Focus Moving Forward
As the 2025 season continues, Mercedes plans to concentrate efforts on returning the W16 to a more balanced and manageable state, recognizing that the car’s issues are the primary obstacle to stronger results. The team’s commitment to supporting Antonelli remains steadfast, despite the frustrations evident in his recent form.
With many races remaining, Mercedes hopes that technical adjustments and continued experience will allow Antonelli to demonstrate the potential glimpsed earlier in the season. His learning curve is acknowledged as steep, but the combination of driver talent and team support offers a hopeful outlook for improving Kimi Antonelli’s F1 performance dip.