The young Italian talent shares his mid-season assessment: between mistakes, adaptation, and self-awareness, Kimi is aiming for a more consistent and solid second half of the year.
The first half of the 2025 season has been a real testing ground for Kimi Antonelli, making his full-time debut in Formula 1 with Mercedes. What’s been surprising, however, is how the Bologna-born driver struggled on familiar European tracks, while showing impressive form at circuits he had never raced on before — a paradox he himself still struggles to explain.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s words
“It’s been a challenging season so far,” Kimi admitted. “We’ve had some good moments, but also plenty of lows. Especially the European stretch didn’t go well at all: I made some personal mistakes, and we also had a number of technical issues.”
“But I’m still trying to learn as much as possible. Sometimes, with all these back-to-back races, it’s hard to gather data and apply it already at the next round.”
EXCLUSIVE – GET THE SCALE MODEL OF KIMI ANTONELLI’S FIRST HELMET!
Antonelli pointed out how the biggest challenge has been putting all the pieces together at the right moment: “When it comes down to finding those last few tenths that make the difference, you need clarity and precision. In some situations, I didn’t take the right steps. But overall, I still see it as a positive balance: we’ve picked up some good results and I’m learning a lot.”
Another aspect that demanded adaptation was the intense rhythm of Formula 1: “Twelve races in seventeen weeks is a lot. F1 never stops, and for me it became essential to find a new balance — especially after those first three races in a row. I realized I had to manage my energy better, not just physically but also mentally.”
This more mindful approach to managing his energy and focus has become a key part of his growth process: “Now I know I need to give myself some time to recharge. That’s the only way I can approach the weekend with the right mindset. I’m still learning how to handle all this, but I now have a much clearer picture of how to face the second half of the season.”
Photo: Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team
