Mercedes Boss;Kimi Antonelli ‘responded better’ than Lewis Hamilton to one aspect of…read more
Kimi Antonelli, the new driver for Mercedes F1, has been receiving praise for his adaptation to the team’s modern Formula 1 cars, particularly their ground effect aerodynamics. As the 2025 season approaches, Antonelli, who is set to make his debut, has been working hard to prepare for the challenge ahead. While much of the focus has been on Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari, Mercedes has been quietly progressing with their new driver, who has impressed the team with his ability to adjust to the demands of their car.
Mercedes, like several other F1 teams, has opted not to hold a car launch event. Instead, they will unveil their new car at the Bahrain pre-season testing. Despite the lack of a formal car launch, Kimi Antonelli has been getting plenty of testing experience in preparation for his entry into Formula 1. The young driver has spent the past year working diligently on his skills after it was announced that Hamilton would be leaving Mercedes.
Team principal Toto Wolff has spoken about the significant amount of testing Antonelli has completed, emphasizing that while this preparation is valuable, there’s no substitute for the experience of racing in a Grand Prix. However, despite the challenges ahead, Antonelli’s progress has been impressive.
Scott Mitchell-Malm, a motorsport journalist, recently discussed Antonelli’s development, highlighting how the teenager has already adapted better to Mercedes’ current F1 cars than both Hamilton and his new teammate, George Russell. One key factor that Mitchell-Malm pointed out was Antonelli’s relative lack of experience with the previous generation of F1 cars. While drivers like Hamilton and Russell have been accustomed to the characteristics of older cars, Antonelli had no such baggage, allowing him to approach the new cars with a fresh perspective.
Mercedes’ current F1 car design, with its ground effect aerodynamics, presents challenges that some drivers have struggled to adjust to. However, Antonelli’s lack of ingrained habits from older cars enabled him to adapt more effectively to these new challenges. He reportedly responded to the cars’ feedback in a more positive way than his more experienced counterparts, and his testing sessions were characterized by a noticeable lack of the negative feedback that often comes from drivers struggling to get comfortable with these complex machines.
In addition to his smooth adaptation to the car’s aerodynamics, Antonelli’s growth throughout his testing sessions has been significant. Over the course of the year, he showed steady improvement, and by the time he completed his private testing sessions with Mercedes, he had gained increased confidence, particularly with time management – an essential skill for an F1 driver. His progress in this area was critical, as it ensured that he was ready to step up into Formula 1 with the right mindset and skills.
As the season draws nearer, Antonelli’s development continues to be a focal point for Mercedes. While the real test will come in his first official race, his successful preparation and ability to adapt to the ground effect cars better than his more experienced colleagues has already marked him as a driver to watch. With the backing of Mercedes and the confidence he’s gained in testing, Antonelli is poised to make a significant impact when he finally takes to the track in 2025.
