Andrea Kimi Antonelli has announced that he will return to using the old Mercedes suspension setup for the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix, aiming to reverse his decline in performance during the 2025 Formula 1 season. This decision comes after a challenging run following a suspension change implemented at Imola, which Antonelli cites as a key factor behind his recent difficulties adapting to the car.
Early Season Promise Deteriorates With New Setup
The 18-year-old Mercedes rookie began the season impressively, securing points in five of the first six races, including a pole position in the Miami sprint race. However, over the last seven rounds, Antonelli has managed to score only once. The period of poor results coincides with the team’s introduction of a new suspension at Imola, where Antonelli’s dip in form initially emerged and his confidence began to wane.
Despite achieving his first F1 podium in Montreal, Antonelli explained this result was influenced by the unique characteristics of that circuit, which differed significantly from the other European venues where he struggled.
Returning to Earlier Suspension Setup Alongside Teammate George Russell
For the Hungarian Grand Prix at Hungaroring, Antonelli and teammate George Russell—who claimed victory in Canada—will revert to the suspensions used prior to Imola. Earlier in the season, when Mercedes was the strongest rival challenging championship leader McLaren, this setup allowed both drivers to extract more performance.
Antonelli expressed hope that returning to the old suspension will restore the driving feel he had before the European rounds began. He explained,
“That hopefully will bring the feeling back. Since we moved to that suspension, apart from Canada, I’ve been struggling to drive the car and get the confidence.”
—Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes driver
He also acknowledged the difficulty he faced adapting his driving style to suit the new system, contrasting his experience with Russell’s smoother adaptation due to their differing styles.
“I didn’t adapt the best because I was always trying to keep my style and to drive the car the way I wanted, but it didn’t really work out. George, on the other hand, has been adapting better. Also, he has a different driving style, but he’s been able to adapt a bit better.”
—Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes driver
Antonelli believes that his aggressive approach aggravated the instability caused by the new suspension.
“And I think that’s what’s been hurting me in this European season. So hopefully by going with the old suspension it will bring back a bit the feeling I had prior to the start of the European season.”
—Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes driver
Challenges Adapting to New Suspension and Driving Style
Antonelli admitted that his driving style, which tends to push the car aggressively, conflicted with the dynamics of the suspension introduced at Imola. This mismatch made the car feel unpredictable, hampering his confidence on track.
“I was making the car even more unpredictable. So, when I was really trying to push, it was hard to feel if it was going to stick or not.”
—Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes driver
He added that confidence plays a crucial role in performance, explaining that without certainty that the car will respond as expected, a driver’s results can suffer greatly.
In response, Antonelli attempted to adjust his driving to better suit the suspension but felt he struggled with this change.
“So that’s why I’ve also been trying to change a bit the way I was driving to go towards the car, but I think I didn’t do a really good job on that. And yeah, I just hope that with the old suspension it’s going to bring the good feeling back.”
—Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes driver
Reflection After Difficult Spa Weekend Spurs Decision
Antonelli’s decision to revert suspension settings was prompted by his difficult performance at Spa last weekend. He was eliminated early in qualifying for both the sprint and the grand prix and failed to improve much during the races, marking one of his most disappointing weekends so far.
“I made a very clear point to myself, especially after Spa qualifying, that I wasn’t delivering,”
—Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes driver
He described a moment of self-reflection following Spa, recognizing that the current suspension setup was preventing him from performing to his potential.
“In Spa, I really looked inside myself and I made a clear point that with this suspension, I was not able to deliver as I could previously. And that probably also, I didn’t adapt the best way to extract the best performance out of the car. So, I made the point that at the moment I was not performing the best, and it was hard to accept.”
—Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes driver
Though the realization was difficult, Antonelli believes it is a necessary step for growth and motivation.
“So it was not easy, but I think on the other side, it’s helpful because it helps you to refocus and to work harder on yourself even more.”
—Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes driver
Championship Standings and Upcoming Expectations
Heading into the Hungarian Grand Prix, Antonelli is seventh in the drivers’ championship, while George Russell sits fourth. The title battle remains tightly contested between McLaren’s Lando Norris and current standings leader Oscar Piastri. This suspension change represents a crucial opportunity for Antonelli to regain confidence and competitiveness as the season progresses.
The outcome of this weekend may signal whether reverting to the old setup can halt Antonelli’s slump and help Mercedes close the gap to McLaren in the championship fight.
