Kimi Antonelli has reflected on the mental challenges during his debut season in Formula 1. The Mercedes driver admits that he was overwhelmed by the pressure in 2025, but emphasizes that this difficult period made him stronger. The 19-year-old Italian is now reaping the benefits and has been leading the world championship since the Japanese GP.
Read more Martin Brundle somber about Carlos Sainz’s future: ‘Career stalls at Williams’
Antonelli was brought to Mercedes in 2025 as the successor to Lewis Hamilton, who moved to Ferrari. After a strong start to the season, the Italian experienced a difficult phase during the European part of the championship. In the Significant Figures podcast, he described how tough that period was for him. “Of course, I started the season well, but then a difficult period followed. During the European races, I really struggled.”
“I also let the pressure get to me a bit,” he admitted honestly. “At the time, I felt like I would disappoint so many people who believed in me. Especially Toto (Wolff, ed.), because he was ultimately the one who gave me this seat.” According to Antonelli, the turnaround came after an important conversation with Mercedes. “I didn’t feel good during that period – things just weren’t going well. But after the European season, I had an important meeting with the team, and that gave me the chance to reset and start over.”
Read more Cadillac remains convinced of experienced driver duo: ‘We owe our growth to them’
Finding the right mindset
“I slowly found my way back and then had a strong second half of the season,” Antonelli continued relieved. “That gave me the confidence and ability to overcome those difficult moments. I still feel that confidence this year. It has also taught me a lot about myself, not only as a driver but also as a person.” The Italian explained that he especially learned how to deal with difficult situations. “During that European season, almost everything I did worked against me. But I also learned how my body reacts in those moments, how my brain reacts, and what helps me to regain the right focus and mindset.”
“Certain habits can help maintain one hundred percent of my energy throughout the weekend,” he explained. “So I have learned a lot about myself, but also about how to handle difficult moments.” Antonelli also acknowledges that the step to Mercedes immediately presented him with a huge challenge. At the same time, it allowed him to develop much faster. “I think the team did a fantastic job protecting me,” he concluded. “It was a very steep learning curve. I learned much more than if I had started with a smaller F1 team. Sometimes it felt like I was racing three seasons at once. All those new experiences were sometimes overwhelming, both physically and mentally.”
Read more Max Verstappen on saying goodbye to the home front: ‘My father also always found that difficult’
Read everything about the Dutch GP in Zandvoort here
