Antonelli reveals "he got a little kick in the butt, but it was what I needed"

Mercedes rookie driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli revealed that he “received somewhat kick within the butt” after his disappointing weekend on the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, however he admitted that “it was what I wanted.”

Ferrari endured a troublesome weekend final day trip at Singapore. The SF25 lacked pace in qualifying which noticed Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc safe solely the sixth and seventh spot on the grid.

The Monegasque received the higher begin on Sunday and located himself operating fifth as he was capable of overtake his team-mate and the Mercedes of Andrea Kimi Antonelli on the opening lap.

Nevertheless, Leclerc encountered technical points and needed to take care of his brakes from the early levels of the race. Because of his difficulties, he misplaced out to the Italian as he was pressured to carry and coast within the majority of the race.

Hamilton spent nearly all of the Singapore Grand Prix in P7. As he had a free pit cease window, he pitted for a second time to take a contemporary set of softs. The seven-time world champion was capable of eat up the bottom to the again of his group mate on contemporary rubber.

The Briton was let by means of to chase down his Mercedes alternative which he did, solely to lose his brakes late on. He allowed Leclerc again by means of and misplaced almost 40 seconds to Alonso during the last couple of laps.

Nevertheless, whereas he was wanting to nurse his brake points on the ultimate laps, he exceeded the observe limits on 4 events for which he acquired a five-second penalty. It meant the Leclerc completed sixth whereas Hamilton left the Marina Bay Circuit with an eighth-place end.

Requested to sum up his efficiency throughout the European races of the season, Antonelli added: “Standing right here now, if I had one message for the Kimi of Could 2025 it might be: ‘Don’t mess up the European season!’

“It was a tricky interval. As a driver, frustration begins to recover from you. The main target begins to go someplace else. You do not focus as a lot on the method anymore. You simply attempt to get the ultimate consequence. I believe that was my downside throughout the European season.”

Antonelli was pressured to retire with a technical difficulty on the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. His second house race at Monza ended with one other disappointment as he completed down in ninth place.

“After Monza, I did an enormous assembly with Bono and the engineers. I received somewhat kick within the butt, nevertheless it was what I wanted, truthfully. Now I am again heading in the right direction, with the fitting mindset, and specializing in the method, on the fundamentals, making an attempt to drive properly, put issues collectively, after which I do know the consequence will come by itself.

“We had a few good weekends [in Singapore and Baku], which is necessary, bringing factors for the group. “The automobile has been very, very robust, which could be very promising.

“Now six races to go. We draw back from Ferrari and Pink Bull as properly. That is a very powerful. It will be necessary to maintain bringing factors, carry out properly. And to get the P2 within the Constructors’ Championship.”

Commenting on working along with Lewis Hamilton’s former race engineer, Peter Bonnington, Antonelli added: “It is a huge privilege to have the ability to work with Bono. He has a lot information, and each time he brings such an necessary enter on my job and my work.

“It has been essential. Additionally, particularly throughout the races, the best way he speaks to me is essential. More often than not, it makes a distinction. It has been good thus far.

“I have been having loads of enjoyable with him. I am wanting ahead to getting some good outcomes for the tip of the season,” the Italian concluded.

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