P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Kimi Antonelli “getting weaker”, Mercedes “becoming a one-man team”
Former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer has cautioned Mercedes about the risk of becoming a “one-man team” due to Kimi Antonelli’s recent form struggles. Antonelli has only scored points twice in the last nine races and Mercedes’ Imola upgrade did not seem to improve his performance. After reverting to an older suspension part at the Hungaroring, George Russell returned to the podium quickly. Palmer discussed the battle for second in the constructors’ championship on the F1 Nation podcast, highlighting that Mercedes needs to support Antonelli better to compete with Ferrari. The uncertainty around Antonelli’s contract for next year might be affecting his performance, but Palmer believes a new deal announcement would relieve the pressure and boost his confidence. Despite occasional flashes of performance, Antonelli seems to be overthinking while racing, leading to a comparative decline against his teammate, which is unexpected for a talented rookie driver like him.
