Rookie Kimi Antonelli 'Paying The Price' Due To Mercedes' Error, Admits Technical Director

News18

2 days ago

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Mercedes technical director James Allison defended Kimi Antonelli, attributing his struggles to the team's car development missteps, leading to confidence issues and retirements.
How fast is too fast? Well, perhaps promoting an 18-year-old to the first team might just be that.
Mercedes technical director James Allison has acknowledged that the team's recent development missteps have contributed to rookie Kimi Antonelli's struggles in his debut Formula 1 season.
Antonelli, who came into Mercedes as Lewis Hamilton's replacement, made headlines in June by securing his first F1 podium with a third-place finish in Canada. However, he has since failed to score points, suffering two retirements, a 17th-place finish in the Belgian sprint, and 16th in the main Grand Prix on Sunday at Spa-Francorchamps.
Despite an earlier sprint pole in Miami and becoming the youngest race leader in F1 history, Antonelli has now recorded four retirements in the last seven rounds.
After the Belgian Grand Prix, he admitted to reporters that he was lacking confidence in the car and not driving at the level he expects of himself.
However, Allison says that the poor run of form is not entirely his fault.
'He's Paying the Price"
In a post-race debrief on Tuesday, Allison defended the young driver and pointed to the team's car development decisions as a key factor behind his struggles.
'I think he's, like the rest of us, massively fed up with a string of results that are well below what we were collectively achieving earlier in the year," Allison said.
'I hope he takes some solace from the fact that we tell him, and it's demonstrably a fact, that we have taken the wrong steps with the car, making our team less competitive, and that he is paying the price for that, as is George (Russell)."
Allison added that it's particularly tough for a rookie to deliver when the car is underperforming.
'If the car isn't where it needs to be, then it will be a struggle getting through the qualifying stages in your rookie season in F1."
Allison emphasized that Antonelli's results are expected to improve as the car's competitiveness returns.
'It's utterly clear to all of us that the car needs to be better, and if it is, his fortunes will pick up," he said.
'Hopefully, he's listening to us as we say those reassuring words, because we absolutely know that he is putting in the effort on his side of that bargain."
Mercedes currently sit third in the constructors' standings, 28 points behind Ferrari, while McLaren, who are on top, are bulldozing the opposition in the race.
(with agency inputs)
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