Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 Formula 1 world champion, has harshly criticized Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli following a disappointing qualifying session at the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix. Antonelli will start in 11th place after failing to reach Q3, while his teammate George Russell secured fifth on the grid. The Mercedes rookie struggles remain a growing concern as the season moves forward.
Villeneuve’s Candid Assessment of Antonelli’s Performance
Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Villeneuve expressed his frustration over Antonelli’s inconsistent form throughout the season.
“It’s tough because he’s already burnt himself up a bit,”
Villeneuve told Simon Lazenby.
“It’s really hard to get back from that. The break was supposed to be the big reset and it wasn’t.”
He dismissed the argument that Antonelli’s youth might excuse his struggles, arguing that age is no defense in Formula 1.
“And you talk about age. No, that’s not an excuse. Max was young. Lewis was young. There have been other young drivers. This is F1. It’s the pinnacle. You arrive in F1 ready. This is not school,”
Villeneuve said.
Villeneuve pressed further on expectations for rookies, noting that they should improve steadily.
“You’re supposed to do a few tough races and then you keep progressing like [Gabriel] Bortoleto has been doing. Antonelli has not been doing that.”
Antonelli’s Early Season Highlights and Recent Difficulties
Antonelli showed early promise with a strong fourth-place finish from 16th in the Australian Grand Prix opener and captured a pole position at the Miami sprint race. However, his inconsistency has been an ongoing issue, with recent weekends, including the Dutch GP, proving particularly challenging.
At the Dutch GP, a lock-up at Turn 9 cut short Antonelli’s first practice session, and he failed to make it into Q3 for the third race in a row, underscoring his struggles to maintain performance under pressure.
Impact of Tight Regulations on Driver Performance Differences
Villeneuve highlighted how the strict regulations in Formula 1 have minimized performance gaps between cars.
“The cars, because the regulations are very strict, they’re not very open. So by the end of the regulations, they all kind of get in the same ballpark,”
he explained.
“And when there’s a big difference in cars, a driver that is not really up to speed can still get a good result. When it’s the end of regulations and it’s so tight, two tenths off the pace means a lot to the team.”
Bortoleto’s Consistency Stands in Contrast
Meanwhile, Sauber rookie Gabriel Bortoleto has impressed with steady progress. Despite Sauber’s comparatively less competitive car, Bortoleto has scored points in three of the last four races and leads his seasoned teammate Nico Hulkenberg 9-6 in qualifying sessions.
This comparison puts additional pressure on Antonelli, whose Mercedes seat appears secure but whose rising expectations mean his future performances will be closely watched.
