Kimi Antonelli says he feels “very fortunate” that Mercedes has not put extra strain on him whereas dealing with the challenges of his rookie season in Method 1.
Mercedes signed Antonelli alongside George Russell this season; the 18-year-old making the step as much as Method 1 simply two years after racing in Method Regional. Antonelli made an robust begin, however the seven European races have yielded only a solitary level, which he says makes him admire the strategy Mercedes has taken to his growth.
“I really feel I am in a really fortunate place as a result of I am in a position, regardless of being in a prime group, to do my studying with out having an excessive amount of strain, or with out feeling the must be at the very best and be profitable on a regular basis,” Antonelli stated.
“After all, the mindset and what I need and what the group needs is to win each time. Each time we go on observe, the aim is to win. And I am the primary one to be sad with myself once I know I am underperforming. However on the identical time, once I make errors, the group is all the time very supportive. And this additionally means that you can overcome the error and to be higher the subsequent time.”
The Italian stated the endurance of group principal Toto Wolff and the remainder of Mercedes has been a assist, however as he awaits affirmation of a contract extension, Antonelli admitted he has put an excessive amount of strain on himself throughout his powerful run of outcomes.
“[The support has been] extraordinarily necessary, not solely about Toto, however about the entire group,” he stated. “I feel I’ve acquired actually good folks round me that simply need the perfect for me. They have been making an attempt to guard me, and I by no means felt any strain from the group.
“I feel it was extra the strain I used to be placing on myself than from the group or something, as a result of the group has all the time been… Clearly in some events they have been pushing, however it’s good. However largely they have been all the time, as an instance good, as a result of they’ve all the time been giving me the house they usually all the time understood my state of affairs.
“On some events they have been making an attempt to push me. But it surely’s good, and as a driver, you want it. As a result of clearly I am racing in a prime group, and particularly if you see good outcomes, then as is regular, the group then begin to anticipate extra of those outcomes.
“I’ve to be trustworthy, I by no means felt any strain from the group. And to this point, they’re doing the perfect to place me in the perfect place. So I feel it is extra about me, that I inject ache to myself, simply by placing on an excessive amount of strain.
“However I’m very conscious that, additionally with all of the rumors and issues, I will type of put this noise away as a result of the group has all the time been supportive and all the time have been clear and open to me on what they need and every little thing. So that basically helps as effectively with these type of conditions.”
