Andrea Kimi Antonelli has disclosed that he made a breakthrough at the Japanese Grand Prix that has heightened his confidence with Mercedes’ 2025 Formula 1 car.
Antonelli continued an assured start to his maiden season in the series as he made it three successive points results with a sixth-place finish at Suzuka last weekend.
The Italian had experienced a challenging race in China as he trailed 42 seconds behind team-mate George Russell, albeit having incurred damage on the opening lap.
Antonelli’s struggles continued through practice in Japan, but an impressive turnaround saw him complete a Mercedes third-row lockout as he qualified in sixth place.
Having maintained position at the start, Antonelli utilised the fresher tyres at his disposal from an extended first stint to end up less than two seconds behind Russell.
Antonelli, who became both the youngest driver to lead a lap and to set a fastest lap in the process, revealed he departed the weekend more fulfilled than in Shanghai.
“Yeah, much happier with today, much better than China,” Antonelli told media including Motorsport Week.
“Was really happy about the pace, finally we showed some good pace, consistency, especially in the Hard.
“On the Medium, the first 15 laps were a little bit of a struggle, but then once I got in free air, the pace improved quite a lot.
“Then once I went on the Hard was another step forward and so really happy with that.”
Antonelli’s extended stint wasn’t planned
Antonelli has conceded that Mercedes extending his stint on the Medium compound to exceed the laps Lewis Hamilton managed on the Hards had not been planned.
“I have to tell you the plan was different, it was to stop earlier, but as the pace was improving lap by lap
and consistent we decided to stay because we had no threat from behind and then we just tried something different,” he explained.
“I’m not going to lie, at one point on Medium it started drizzling.
“So I was really hoping for some rain, but unfortunately it didn’t come, but at the same time, I cannot complain because today was a really good experience.”
Antonelli reveals Mercedes breakthrough
Antonelli professed that he had been eager to catch his team-mate in the closing laps as he and Russell consolidated Mercedes’ grip on second in the championship.
However, Antonelli is bullish that the progress he made with understanding Mercedes’ W15 car over the weekend has put him in good stead for the upcoming rounds.
“Yeah, qualifying was a big click because definitely I was able to, already in qualifying, to feel more the car and push it more and today was another step forward,” he said.
“I’m really looking forward to explore even more in the next few weekends, because now I have the feeling that I can again play with the car and [that is] something that I couldn’t really do in the previous two weekends, just because I was definitely a bit more tense while driving.
“Well now, of course, I’m getting more experience with the tyres and the car itself, so I’m able to feel it more as well so definitely a good boost of confidence.”
READ MORE – Kimi Antonelli hails Japan qualifying turnaround after ‘being lost’ through practice
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