How a Post-Monza Meeting Transformed Kimi Antonelli’s Rookie F1 Season

In an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com, Antonelli revealed how this pivotal conversation helped him reset mentally, refocus on fundamentals, and ultimately salvage a season that had threatened to spiral out of control.

The Monza Low Point

Antonelli entered the 2025 season as one of F1’s most highly rated rookies, but his campaign hit a nadir at Monza in September. After a promising start—including a historic sprint pole in Miami—his confidence was shaken by a series of setbacks. This culminated in a crash during free practice and a lackluster race weekend in front of his home crowd. « Underwhelming, » was how Wolff described the performance at the time.

« During that difficult period, I lost my direction a little, » Antonelli admitted. « There was a lot of frustration, and I started thinking too much about the final result. Every time I got in the car, I put a lot of pressure on myself. »

The Meeting That Changed Everything

After Monza, Antonelli, Wolff, and race engineer Peter Bonnington held a candid debrief. The meeting wasn’t about blame, but about refocusing on process over results.

« They told me straight to my face what they thought of my performance… But it was constructive criticism that I took onboard in a positive way. It helped me reset and made me determined to say: ‘OK, now things are going to change.’ And they did change. »

From Struggle to Podiums

The turnaround was immediate. Antonelli’s improved mindset coincided with Mercedes reverting to a previous suspension setup at Zandvoort, which better suited his driving style. The results followed: a return to points-scoring form in Baku and breakthrough performances in the season’s final races.

Lessons for the Future

Antonelli now views his rookie struggles as a « solid foundation of experience » to build on for 2026. The Monza meeting taught him the value of mental resilience and the need to stay process-focused under pressure.

For Mercedes, Antonelli’s ability to bounce back from adversity has reinforced their confidence in him. As Wolff noted, « It doesn’t change anything on my support and confidence in his future, because I believe he’s going to be very, very, very good. »