Antonelli's Strong Friday Boosts Mercedes Hopes in Mexico City

Kimi Antonelli's impressive performance in the practice sessions for the Mexico City Grand Prix has sparked optimism within Mercedes, with the young driver himself believing the pace "looks good" for the remainder of the weekend. Antonelli secured a P2 and P3 finish in FP1 and FP2, respectively, marking a career-first by placing in the top three in both Friday sessions.

Why it matters:

• Antonelli's strong showing, particularly outpacing teammate George Russell by three-tenths in FP2, suggests Mercedes might have found a significant performance uplift.
• For a team that has been working to close the gap to frontrunners, a promising start to a Grand Prix weekend, especially from a rising talent, could be a crucial indicator of progress and a morale booster.

The Details:

• The 18-year-old finished P2 in FP1 and P3 in FP2 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
• This marks the first time in his career Antonelli has finished inside the top three in both Friday practice sessions.
• He was notably quicker than his teammate George Russell in FP2.
• Antonelli described Friday as "probably one of the best Fridays I've had in a long time."
• He acknowledged a slight dip in FP2 performance due to setup changes, stating, "FP2 was a little worse, as we tried some setup changes, and in some ways improved the car, but in other ways made it a bit worse."
• Despite a minor engine issue at the start of FP2, Antonelli confirmed all planned laps were completed efficiently, including quick runs.

The Big Picture:

• Antonelli's P3 finish at the Canadian Grand Prix was his maiden podium, but he has had a challenging run since, often finishing outside the points.
• Recent positive performances in Azerbaijan and Singapore hint at a resurgence, and this strong Friday in Mexico could be the continuation of that positive momentum.
• The confidence gained from these practice sessions will be vital for qualifying on Saturday, a critical element for a strong race result on Sunday.

What's next:

• Antonelli is focused on maintaining his form, acknowledging that Saturday will bring different track conditions: "The track is going to evolve, and it's going to be important to evolve as well with the driving and with the car."
• His performance in qualifying will be key to converting this promising Friday pace into a strong grid position, setting the stage for a potential second podium finish of the 2025 season.