P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes has stated that Kimi Antonelli could have secured a “very, very strong result” at the Hungaroring if it were not for one considerable factor.
Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin mentioned that a higher qualifying position for Kimi Antonelli at the Hungarian Grand Prix could have resulted in a promising outcome.
Antonelli, at 18 years old, secured his first point in Formula 1 in Europe by finishing tenth at the Hungaroring but was held back by starting from 15th place.
Teammate George Russell’s return to the podium marked a resurgence for Mercedes post a challenging period, partly due to a problematic rear suspension upgrade at Imola.
Reverting to the previous car configuration near Budapest showed immediate improvement, granting drivers more confidence and agility on track.
Shovlin acknowledged some responsibility for Antonelli’s qualifying setback and expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance following the recent struggles.
Utilizing a strategic one-stop plan effectively, Antonelli advanced through the field and ended his point drought before the F1 summer break.
