Andrea Kimi Antonelli blames Mercedes suspension update

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the young Italian Formula One driver, has revealed that problems with his Mercedes rear suspension ruined overmuch of his debut season. The young Italian, who became the youngest operator to instrumentality rod presumption successful the past of the athletics (albeit a sprint pole) aboriginal successful the season, showed helium had potential, but a bid of failed upgrades created a superior challenge.

Antonelli had practically the aforesaid car for the archetypal six races of the season, allowing him to physique his assurance and get to cognize the W16 car. Qualifying successful Miami showed his strength, and a archetypal podium successful Canada confirmed his talent. However, erstwhile Mercedes introduced a caller rear suspension astatine Imola, Antonelli began to suffer his consciousness and confidence.

Struggling with the caller suspension

“I came into the sixth contention of the play successful Miami with a batch of confidence. I was capable to physique and suffice to amusement my potential. It was great,” Antonelli told Motorsport Week. “Then we switched to the caller suspension and that’s wherever the problems started. Right aft Miami I arrived astatine Imola with precocious hopes, but with the caller suspension I struggled incredibly.”

The young operator had to accommodate his driving benignant successful a mode that was not earthy to him, which further reduced his efficiency.

“I had the aforesaid car for the archetypal six races. Since we switched to the caller suspension, I conscionable mislaid much and much confidence. Now that we’re backmost to the car from the opening of the year, I anticipation to rebuild that confidence.”

Antonelli admitted that each his efforts to accommodate to the caller suspension were successful vain.

“It wasn’t casual to pass my needs to the team. It was hard to alteration the car to truly assistance me. The squad was alert of the problem, but the solution wasn’t easy. When we went backmost to the aged suspension, assurance dilatory came back, particularly successful Hungary.”

The young Italian hopes that the remainder of the play volition beryllium a changeless maturation and that helium volition yet beryllium capable to amusement his afloat imaginable successful Formula 1.