P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes chief admits early F1 mistake may have damaged Antonelli potential
Mercedes technical director James Allison believes Kimi Antonelli’s disappointing debut with the team in F1 may have impacted his performances this season. Antonelli debuted during FP1 in Monza last year, but a crash into the barriers cut his session short. This incident seemed to have a lasting effect on the rookie, making him approach race weekends with caution. Despite the rocky start, Antonelli has shown improvement, with a standout P4 finish in Melbourne followed by a recent dip in form. Currently in seventh place in the drivers’ championship, Antonelli’s future at Mercedes remains uncertain as his contract is set to expire this season. Team boss Toto Wolff, however, affirms Antonelli is still a valuable part of their plans moving forward.
