Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli revealed that a key team meeting after the Italian Grand Prix helped him shift his focus, leading to his strong performance at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Antonelli’s 2025 season has been a rollercoaster, with flashes of brilliance – like a podium in Canada – marred by a string of setbacks.
After scoring points in five of his first six races, the Italian endured a frustrating six-race stretch, with a ninth-place finish as his best result until Baku.
Car issues, driving errors, and challenges with Mercedes’ simulator had left the rookie struggling to find his rhythm. However, a pivotal meeting following his home race at Monza changed the trajectory of his season.
"After Monza I had a big meeting with the team and that helped a lot as well to shift the focus,” Antonelli told the official Formula 1 channel. “It was good.
"I think after Monza many things changed and everything since then has gone smoothly and as planned. So we just need to keep focusing on the process, on driving well and do everything right, and then the results will come.”
A Positive Bounce-Back in Baku
Despite narrowly missing the podium in Baku, Antonelli believes the weekend demonstrated the right momentum shift.
"It was a good weekend,” he said. “Definitely the best way to bounce back after a difficult period in Europe.
“I was still a bit annoyed after the race because the podium was just so close.
©Mercedes
"But still if I look back it was a really positive weekend, definitely what I needed to shift the momentum.
“So I’m really looking forward to this weekend. A new track, a new challenge, but we’re ready to do our best.”
Uncertainty Ahead in Singapore
Mercedes’ car has historically performed better in cooler conditions, which could present challenges for Antonelli at the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix.
"It’s really hard to say because where the car has been strong last year – where we were supposed to be strong this year because last year they were good – we weren’t super-good,” he said.
“And in the places where they struggled last year we were strong this year. So it’s tough to say.”
Antonelli’s strong showing in Baku suggests the young driver is learning to manage both the highs and lows of his rookie season, with the hope that a clear process and team alignment can keep the momentum going.
Read also: Mercedes admit simulator glitch hampered Antonelli’s F1 prep
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