Mercedes engineer explains Antonelli's mid-season slump and late-year surge

Mercedes trackside engineering chief Andrew Shovlin suggests that rookie Kimi Antonelli's mid-season struggles in his debut F1 campaign stemmed partly from "unrealistic expectations," particularly on familiar European circuits. After a strong start, the Italian's form dipped significantly before a late-season resurgence saw him outperform teammate George Russell and secure podium finishes.

Why it matters:

Antonelli's adaptation curve provides a crucial case study in managing the immense pressure and technical complexity faced by a highly-touted rookie replacing a legend like Lewis Hamilton. His journey from early promise through a confidence crisis to strong recovery highlights the non-linear development path for young drivers in modern F1, where technical understanding and weekend management are as critical as raw speed.

The details:

• Shovlin identified a psychological pattern: Antonelli performed better on unfamiliar flyaway tracks where he had no preconceived expectations, while struggling on European circuits he "thought he knew" from junior categories.
• The rookie's main technical challenge was optimizing single-lap performance and tire management, particularly generating temperature in qualifying. Shovlin noted specific incidents like Budapest where Antonelli "overcooked it" in Turns 1-2, carrying excess tire temperature throughout the lap.
• Weekend Management Issues: Early problems included practical elements like timing in Melbourne qualifying, where Antonelli didn't realize "how fast everyone moves" during pit exit, leading to being boxed in.
• Strengths Emerged: Despite qualifying struggles, Antonelli showed immediate strong race pace and an exceptional ability to describe car behavior to engineers. His sim work ethic and capacity to learn from mistakes without repeating them stood out.
• Team Adjustments: Mercedes streamlined his European weekends by cutting sponsor commitments and increasing simulator preparation after his mid-season dip.

Looking ahead:

With a contract extension secured and a strong finish to 2025, Antonelli enters 2026's major regulation changes with valuable experience. Shovlin believes his simulator proficiency and ability to "drive while talking"—a skill honed by gaming—will be significant assets in adapting to new cars. The team now has a clearer understanding of his development needs, having discovered his challenges differed from their preseason expectations about long-run pace versus single-lap performance.