P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Guenther Steiner has his say on Kimi Antonelli’s difficult rookie campaign
Guenther Steiner, the ex-Haas team principal, labeled Kimi Antonelli’s debut F1 season as “pretty average” due to recent struggles. Antonelli has only managed to score points once in the past seven races. Meanwhile, his difficulties coincided with Mercedes’ performance decline, while teammate George Russell achieved top-five finishes four times within the same period. Concerns arose over Antonelli’s confidence as he appeared emotional and teary-eyed before addressing the media at the Belgian Grand Prix. Steiner pondered if Antonelli was prematurely promoted to F1, suggesting a potential plan modification after Lewis Hamilton’s departure to Ferrari. Despite setbacks, Antonelli seems likely to continue with Mercedes for another season, as Max Verstappen is reportedly staying at Red Bull for 2026.
