P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes has defended Kimi Antonelli, and placed the blame for his recent struggles on the team itself.
Mercedes technical director James Allison believes Kimi Antonelli’s recent struggles in F1 are due to the team’s fault, with Antonelli yet to score a point in Europe this season, experiencing retirements and low finishes.
Antonelli’s performance has declined since a strong start, with only one podium since Miami, facing mechanical failures and incidents like a crash caused by Isack Hadjar at Silverstone.
Both Antonelli and team-mate George Russell have faced challenges, with Mercedes dropping in the standings to Ferrari, attributing the dip in form to the car’s performance rather than the drivers’ abilities.
Allison emphasized the need for improving the car to enhance Antonelli’s and Russell’s performances, expressing confidence that once the car is better, Kimi’s fortunes will turn around.
