Kimi Antonelli is looking to learn from a difficult European period during his debut Formula 1 campaign, ahead of 2026’s curtain-raising Australian Grand Prix.
The Mercedes man suffered a season-defining string of six races on European soil without points in 2025, which included four retirements.
Despite this, Antonelli notched the most points in a debut season since 2010’s scoring change.
The Italian’s season ended on a positive, too, as he accrued back-to-back podiums in Brazil and Las Vegas respectively.
Speaking to media including Motorsport Week, Antonelli reflected on his European period as a “difficult moment.”
“That has been a difficult moment for me, the European season, but I’ve learned a lot. Also I’ve learned a lot about myself, and about the mindset that I need to always have.
“So it’s been incredibly helpful, even though it was not pleasant at all, but I learned a lot, and now I know what I need to avoid in order not to fall in the same trap.”
Antonelli hopes Mercedes preparation is enough for ‘interesting’ Australian GP weekend
Mercedes enjoyed strong pre-season showings in Barcelona and Bahrain. However, all teams will be entering with caution towards the unknown of 2026’s new style of racing.
With the addition of overtake mode and a tweaked race start procedure, Antonelli admits that the start in Melbourne could be “a bit of chaos.”
“We’ve been trying to cover all scenarios on the simulator, even though some of them are difficult because until you experience them for the first time on track [you don’t know].
“When it happens in the moment, it’s always a little bit different, but I think it’s going to be an interesting weekend, definitely. This track is so energy-hungry that the overtake mode is incredibly powerful, and that [gives] a bit of chaos, lap one especially, when everyone jumps on the overtake mode.
“Race start is going to be another big thing. Obviously now with the new panel, it’s a bit easier, but still getting the timing right, building the boost in the right moment is still going to be crucial.
“Because if you don’t do so, then you can have a really bad start. And especially looking at Ferrari, they look in a very, very strong place on that side.
“In Bahrain we did struggle a bit on that side, obviously we worked a lot and improved it, but I think still needs a little bit of work to get to Ferrari. Maybe in Australia, in the first race on Sunday we’re going to have a better start, I don’t know, but I think this race can be a bit of chaos”
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