P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Kimi Antonelli is still feeling the affects of a difficult European period during his debut Formula 1 campaign, ahead of the curtain-raising Australian Grand Prix.
Kimi Antonelli is reflecting on his challenging European period in his debut Formula 1 season, focusing on the lessons learned ahead of the 2026 Australian Grand Prix. Despite a tough run of six races without points in 2025, Antonelli scored the most points in a debut season since 2010. The Italian driver closed the season positively with consecutive podium finishes in Brazil and Las Vegas. Mercedes had a strong pre-season showing, but Antonelli acknowledges the potential challenge from Ferrari at the start of the Australian Grand Prix. The new aspects of racing in 2026, like the overtake mode and revised race start procedure, could lead to a chaotic start in Melbourne, with Antonelli emphasizing the need for precise preparation and performance improvements.
