Why Antonelli’s strongest F1 outcomes have come at tracks he is not aware of

Toto Wolff defined why the highlights of Andrea Kimi Antonelli's rookie Formulation 1 season have all come at unfamiliar circuits after he completed second on the Brazilian Grand Prix.

That was the 19-year-old's second podium of 2025, after taking third place in Canada, with the opposite constructive spotlight of Antonelli's marketing campaign being when the Mercedes driver took pole for the Miami dash race.

However these are three tracks he hadn't beforehand raced at and often one would anticipate a rookie to be stronger across the circuits they visited throughout their days within the junior formulation.

That hasn't been the case for Antonelli although, as a result of throughout the 9 mid-season European rounds, he solely claimed two point-scores amid a really up-and-down season for the Italian who's seventh within the standings. 

His constructive outcomes have been marred by a number of crashes and pointless errors, whereas he even admitted to not dealing with the strain at his residence race in Imola – from which he retired. 

So Mercedes boss Wolff thinks not experiencing such adulation from followers at non-European rounds has really helped Antonelli, who held off a late cost from Max Verstappen at Interlagos to maintain second. 

“All weekend he was sturdy,” mentioned Wolff, as Antonelli additionally completed second within the Sao Paulo dash. “Possibly it was coming to a monitor that he did not know – it is a bit simpler.

“Expectations are possibly decrease. Possibly strain isn't as excessive as a number of the Europeans after which the execution was faultless on the finish: having the ability to fend off Max on a more recent and softer tyre, effectively that was actually sturdy and testomony to what's to return.”

F1 has maybe been Antonelli's first time in opposition to superior opposition, given he has a supreme junior document with 4 titles throughout 2022 and 2023 which led to him being fast-tracked into F2. 

He has a very sturdy team-mate in George Russell and Wolff thinks that may very well be one other think about how Antonelli has simply wanted time to regulate to the premiere sequence.

“I believe it is also managing his personal expectations, he is so younger, he is simply 19 years previous,” mentioned Wolff.  “You come to a monitor the place you realize you have carried out very effectively up to now, a number of the European ones, after which on the again foot.

“You've a sensational team-mate that's nearly as good because it will get, and I believe coming to a monitor that you do not know is nearly like much less strain, your expectations are decrease, everyone else's expectations are decrease, the form of fan strain is lower than on a number of the European tracks, and I believe that performs a giant function.”

There was even debate over Antonelli's future for 2026, as speak of Verstappen becoming a member of Mercedes was strife in the course of the summer season till the four-time world champion publicly dedicated to Pink Bull.

Antonelli has since had his contract renewed and Wolff insisted that the extension was all the time a part of the plan, having by no means doubted the teen even throughout his poor kind midseason. 

“I used to be all the time assured he will get the mandatory grip, that is why it was all the time clear that Kimi goes to stick with us subsequent yr,” mentioned Wolff.  “So there was little question that with these sophisticated vehicles, the administration of the tyres is one thing that you should be taught.

“In that respect, that is a terrific outcome. One of many good days. Like I mentioned, there have been many harder [occasions], however there was not a single second of doubt in how he is coming, however I all the time attempt to dampen the expectations on him.

“The Italians talked in regards to the legend Kimi Antonelli after Montreal, after Miami, and that is an extra strain. So let's hold each toes on the bottom. He was second, he fended off Max at present, that was very spectacular, however we wish to win races and combat for championships.”

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– The Autosport.com Group