Kimi Antonelli says he feels “very lucky” that Mercedes has not put additional pressure on him while facing the challenges of his rookie season in Formula 1.
Mercedes signed Antonelli alongside George Russell this season; the 18-year-old making the step up to Formula 1 just two years after racing in Formula Regional. Antonelli made an strong start, but the seven European races have yielded just a solitary point, which he says makes him appreciate the approach Mercedes has taken to his development.
“I feel I’m in a very lucky position because I’m able, despite being in a top team, to do my learning without having too much pressure, or without feeling the need to be at the absolute best and be winning all the time,” Antonelli said.
“Of course, the mindset and what I want and what the team wants is to win every time. Every time we go on track, the goal is to win. And I’m the first one to be unhappy with myself when I know I’m underperforming. But at the same time, when I make mistakes, the team is always very supportive. And this also allows you to overcome the mistake and to be better the next time.”
The Italian said the patience of team principal Toto Wolff and the rest of Mercedes has been a help, but as he awaits confirmation of a contract extension, Antonelli admitted he has put too much pressure on himself during his tough run of results.
“[The support has been] extremely important, not only about Toto, but about the whole team,” he said. “I think I’ve got really good people around me that just want the best for me. They’ve been trying to protect me, and I never felt any pressure from the team.
“I think it was more the pressure I was putting on myself than from the team or anything, because the team has always been… Obviously in some occasions they’ve been pushing, but it’s good. But mostly they’ve been always, let’s say nice, because they’ve always been giving me the space and they always understood my situation.
“On some occasions they’ve been trying to push me. But it’s good, and as a driver, you need it. Because obviously I’m racing in a top team, and especially when you see good results, then as is normal, the team then start to expect more of these results.
“I have to be honest, I never felt any pressure from the team. And so far, they’re doing the best to put me in the best position. So I think it’s more about me, that I inject pain to myself, just by putting on too much pressure.
“But I am very aware that, also with all the rumors and things, I’m able to kind of put this noise away because the team has always been supportive and always have been clear and open to me on what they want and everything. So that really helps as well with these kind of situations.”
