Mercedes Stands Firm After Antonelli's Tough Zandvoort Weekend: "We've Been Really Clear All Along"

Kimi Antonelli endured one of his toughest weekends of the season at Zandvoort, culminating in a heavy crash that ended Charles Leclerc's race and severely compromised his own. The young Italian driver must now quickly move past this and focus on the upcoming Italian Grand Prix, his home race in Formula 1.

Why it matters

Antonelli's performance at Zandvoort drew significant criticism, including from Jacques Villeneuve, who called his clash with Leclerc a "Formula 4 move" and suggested F1 might be "too much for him." This comes at a crucial time as he navigates his rookie season with high expectations.

The Details

• Incident-filled race: Antonelli received two penalties in the Dutch Grand Prix: one for the collision with Charles Leclerc, and another for speeding in the pit lane. The clash with Leclerc resulted in both drivers' races being ruined.
• Previous criticism: Jacques Villeneuve was particularly vocal, stating Antonelli's aggressive move was reminiscent of lower formula racing.

Mercedes' Perspective

Team representative Bradley Lord acknowledged the criticism but reaffirmed Mercedes' long-term view on Antonelli's development.

Lord stated: "We’ve been really clear all along that this is a learning year for him. It’s come very early. He’s still very young and very early in his career trajectory as well. So we know there will be mistakes, but what we’re looking for are the signs and the indications that he is learning, that he’s building his experience and building his capability as a Formula One driver too."

Despite the final result, Lord highlighted positive aspects of Antonelli's performance:

• Improved pace: Strong race pace and a notable improvement in qualifying, despite a troubled practice session.
• Increased confidence: Attributed to a recent reversion on the rear suspension configuration, boosting his confidence in the car.

What's Next

Mercedes remains optimistic, with Lord concluding, "We’re hopeful of seeing that confidence continue to build and Kimi’s performance continue to do the same over the races ahead." Antonelli now faces the pressure of his home Grand Prix in Italy, a key opportunity to demonstrate progress.