P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes has returned to old form in Hungary, prompting Kimi Antonelli to say it should have ditched its unsuccessful updates soon.
Kimi Antonelli expressed his disappointment that Mercedes did not switch back to its previous-spec suspension sooner after encountering difficulties with the new unit during recent Formula 1 races. The team reverted to certain older parts, including the suspension system, for the Hungarian Grand Prix to address the decline in performance that had been reported by Antonelli and teammate George Russell. The decision to return to the older suspension system has already shown positive results, as Russell qualified fourth in Hungary and Antonelli set promising lap times before being penalized for a track limits violation. Antonelli believes Mercedes should have made the switch earlier instead of persisting with data collection on various tracks. The challenging qualifying conditions, influenced by light rain, impacted Antonelli’s performance, leading to a disappointing result despite feeling more confident with the older suspension setup. Despite the setbacks, Antonelli remains optimistic and highlights the potential for improved results with the revised approach in future races.
