After a flawless weekend in Japan, the young Mercedes driver reiterated his thoughts on the W16. Here are Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s words from Bahrain
A dream start to the season. Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the 18-year-old talent from Bologna, is living a fairytale in his debut year in Formula 1 — all the more remarkable behind the wheel of a top team like Mercedes. Following an excellent performance at the challenging Suzuka circuit, the focus now shifts to Bahrain and the Sakhir track. While it may be a less demanding layout than the Japanese one, Kimi remains vigilant, fully aware of the potential pitfalls in Bahrain.
Sakhir is not Suzuka. In Japan, the gap between the top teams and the rest was quite apparent, with a clear margin separating the top four from the midfield. In Bahrain, however, the field is expected to be much tighter. This means even the smallest time differences could play a decisive role throughout the weekend. Another key factor will be the sweltering desert heat — a condition yet to be encountered in the first three races of the year.
Kimi’s words: “George is helping me grow”
Antonelli opened his press conference by speaking about the valuable support he’s received from teammate George Russell: “So far, I’m really happy with how things are going. George is driving incredibly well and is really helping me to grow and learn. You can see the confidence he has — the way he positions the car — there’s a lot to take in. Suzuka was a big step forward for me in terms of confidence and understanding the car “
Speaking about the challenges of Bahrain, Antonelli added: “In Suzuka, it was cold and the asphalt was relatively new. The Pirelli tyres have improved a lot, and I didn’t have to worry too much about tyre management, but here it’s going to be more difficult due to the heat. It will definitely be a key factor during the race. Mentally, the approach also needs to shift to manage the tyres in the best possible way”. “.
Closing thoughts on the W16 and his 2025 ambitions: “The pace is there. We need to keep pushing in the right direction and work hard. Then we’ll see what the results bring on Sunday “
Photo: Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team