Antonelli Gaining Confidence with Mercedes After…Read More
Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli says he’s gaining confidence with each passing weekend in Formula 1, following an impressive qualifying display at the Miami Grand Prix. The young Italian, who is contesting his debut season with the Silver Arrows, delivered a standout performance by securing third on the grid—just 0.002 seconds shy of a front-row start.
Antonelli’s weekend began with challenges. Despite becoming the 14th Italian to set the fastest lap in a grid-deciding session during Sprint Qualifying, he experienced a poor start in the sprint race due to wheelspin. That allowed Oscar Piastri to challenge him off the line, forcing Antonelli slightly off track and dropping him to fourth. Things worsened when he made contact with Max Verstappen, which left him out of the points despite being able to continue the race.
However, the 17-year-old rebounded strongly in the main qualifying session. Although he felt his qualifying laps were less clean than during the sprint, Antonelli still managed to put together a strong final flying lap that placed him just behind Verstappen and Lando Norris. Speaking afterward, Antonelli admitted the session wasn’t perfect, particularly in the first sector of his final run, but he was pleased with the result overall.
“It was quite OK,” he said. “I struggled a bit more compared to the Sprint Quali. The tyres were difficult to manage, and I didn’t really get them in the perfect window for most of the lap. But the last lap felt a little bit better—still not amazing—but I’m really happy with the outcome.”
Antonelli’s performance marked a clear step forward compared to his previous outings this season. He credited his growth to increasing familiarity with the W16 and more confidence behind the wheel.
“Every weekend brings new learning and more experience. I’m starting to feel much more confident in the car, and I can play around more and explore the limits,” Antonelli explained. “This weekend in Miami, I’ve felt especially comfortable. I was able to push more during FP1, and that gave me a good foundation.”
He also noted that the short break following a triple-header of races gave him valuable time to reflect, absorb information, and improve his understanding of tyre management—an area he admits he’s still refining.
“There’s still room for improvement, of course,” Antonelli acknowledged. “But I’m feeling better and better in the car every weekend. Now we head to Europe and to circuits I know well. Hopefully, I can keep this momentum and even push harder.”
Antonelli’s upward trajectory is a promising sign for Mercedes, as the young driver continues to mature quickly in the top tier of motorsport.
