Formula 1 Hungarian GP
Mercedes: Kimi Antonelli F1 struggles an “engineering problem” but fix list “quite small”
Mercedes has attributed Andrea Kimi Antonelli's recent Formula 1 struggles to engineering issues rather than driver ability
Lydia Mee Ronald Vording
Edited: Aug 1, 2025, 4:06 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Photo by: Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin has insisted that rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli's recent performance struggles are due to an "engineering problem" and not a reflection of his ability as a driver.
After a strong start to his debut Formula 1 season with a fourth-place finish in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, his first sprint race pole position in Miami, and his first F1 podium in Canada, Antonelli has not scored points in the last three grands prix.
"Not specific things that we're doing in that regard, other than Bono's engineering, that car knows that if we can give him a stable car, his performance will improve," Shovlin explained to the media when asked by Motorsport.com what they can do to help Antonelli's confidence in the car.
"The reality is both drivers have slipped backwards, but George has all his years in Formula 1 to fall back on and that's been helping him in qualifying.
"Kimi doesn't have that database of knowledge and how to drive around problems. It's probably hurt him a bit more, but it's an engineering problem. If we can solve that, it will certainly boost Kimi's confidence in himself."
The Mercedes director also confirmed that, beyond the suspension change that has been introduced, the "list is quite small" of other changes they could make to help the Italian driver.
"Good question, because we feel that there is a good chance that this will take the car in a better direction.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
"If it doesn't, we need to look at what else is on the table that may have changed between now and the early races. Honestly, that list is quite small by then, but as with anything, you use the race weekend very much as a forum to experiment and understand.
"We're hoping that the conclusion is that this recovers it. If it isn't, we've got more work ahead of us and we'll have to get stuck into that."
Russell has also seen a dip in performance in the W16 following his race win in Canada. The British driver confirmed following his fifth-place finish in Belgium that he was set to have a "big meeting" with the team ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix.
"Yeah, it was pretty underwhelming, to be honest," he explained to Sky Sports F1 at the time. "Because we tend to favour the cooler conditions. So we couldn't have really asked for better weather for us. But we've just had no pace recently. We need to sit down, all of us.
"We're going to have a big meeting this week with all the designers and engineers. To sort of understand the decisions we've made in recent weeks or months. And why we've gone backwards. So hoping for some improvements in Hungary."
Photos from Hungarian GP - Practice
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Hungarian GP - Friday, in photos
Formula 1
65
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri’s relationship “keeps improving” amid F1 title fight
Next article Lewis Hamilton "sure there'll be some tears" in F1 summer break after "intense" Ferrari debut
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Lydia Mee
Laurent Mekies credited with ending Red Bull's second seat "curse"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
1 mo
Laurent Mekies credited with ending Red Bull's second seat "curse"
Guenther Steiner jokes Christian Horner Ferrari talk is good book publicity
Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
1 mo
Guenther Steiner jokes Christian Horner Ferrari talk is good book publicity
Kimi Antonelli has "spooked himself" amid F1 title pressure, says Naomi Schiff
Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
1 mo
Kimi Antonelli has "spooked himself" amid F1 title pressure, says Naomi Schiff
More from
Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Kimi Antonelli meets Italian president Sergio Mattarella
Formula 1
Formula 1 1 d
Kimi Antonelli meets Italian president Sergio Mattarella
The Kimi Antonelli you don't know: Inside the Mercedes garage with F1's new world champion
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
2 d
The Kimi Antonelli you don't know: Inside the Mercedes garage with F1's new world champion
More from
Mercedes
‘Lewis suspected a conspiracy’ – Nico Rosberg explains how Lewis Hamilton F1 rivalry went awry at Mercedes
Formula 1
Formula 1 1 d
‘Lewis suspected a conspiracy’ – Nico Rosberg explains how Lewis Hamilton F1 rivalry went awry at Mercedes
Latest news
Yamaha may not be competitive immediately in MotoGP's 850cc era, says Pramac
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
2 h
Yamaha may not be competitive immediately in MotoGP's 850cc era, says Pramac
You Ask The Questions: Jack Miller
MotoGP
Qatar GP
You Ask The Questions: Jack Miller
Why the anticlimactic WEC title showdown was the worst-case scenario
WEC
WEC WEC
Monza
6 h
Why the anticlimactic WEC title showdown was the worst-case scenario
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe