Antonelli losing momentum before Montreal: “I had some really difficult times”

With more experience than other rookies upon his arrival in Formula 1Kimi Antonelli seemed to still have significant room for improvement despite a truly successful first race in Melbourne. While he was on a roll before the start of the European season, the Italian's performance has declined significantly since the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

Unlucky at home, and victim of a mechanical problem at Imola, the young driver Mercedes has made a series of strategic errors and defeats in the streets of Monaco. After three consecutive retirements in Italy, the Principality, and then Catalonia, Kimi Antonelli is clear about the first major difficulties he is facing.

"It was a pretty difficult run for me, especially because I didn't perform very well, and we also had a few issues," he said at a press conference in Montreal. But overall, I think I learned a lot, especially about managing busy weekends. Imola was incredible, both in terms of the crowd and the time spent in front of my home crowd, and I definitely didn't handle things in the best way. So, overall, it was quite difficult, not in the way I wanted it to be."

A start of an explanation for Kimi Antonelli?

Although this cannot explain the young Italian driver's successive retirements, tire management seems to have been one of the problems regularly encountered this month. “I’m thinking especially of the new C6, in Imola and Monaco I struggled to find consistency and performance. The C6 seems to be a very demanding tyre, and it’s really difficult to get it into the right window from the start lap, he detailedThat's what caused me problems. At Imola, my performance was very variable from one session to the next. In FP3 at Imola, I remember we were on top, then in qualifying, I suddenly lost five or six tenths compared to FP3. So I had a lot of trouble understanding the tire and putting it in the right window, which dented my confidence a bit.

Before tackling the Canadian Grand Prix, Kimi Antonelli admitted he had worked hard on a simulator to resolve a number of his tire comprehension issues. Still present in the garages this weekend in Montreal, the C6 compound wasn't the only challenge the rookie faced. Caught in a vicious circle that was difficult to manage, he also sees these initial hurdles as valuable experience.

Mercedes as mentor to the Italian

"I have a lot to learn: many scenarios to experience and situations to face. The sequence, even if it was not the most pleasant, was still an enriching experience for me, did he weigh. For the first time, I had some really difficult moments: the performance wasn't there, I lacked confidence and I had difficulties with the tires. It was a very good lesson, and I know better how to react for the future."

Accustomed to winning since the beginning of his already trophy-laden career despite his 18 years, Kimi Antonelli will have to rely on his team's experience to help him bounce back. Furthermore, while Isack Hadjar, for example, has managed to maintain a consistent level of performance since his first laps, George Russell's teammate seems to need a boost of confidence, just a few weeks after the great emotion of Miami, the first of his young F1 career. However, such a boost must not become synonymous with excess so as not to fall too quickly into his few failings due to lack of experience.

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