Crunch Mercedes F1 talks revealed as Kimi Antonelli opens up on ‘big meeting’ | F1 | Sport

Kimi Antonelli has revealed that a ‘big meeting’ took place within the Mercedes camp after the Italian’s difficult home race weekend in Monza. This resulted in a strong return to form at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix last time out.

Antonelli’s rookie season has been a curious mix of strong moments and understandable yet frustrating errors. Heading to Baku, he was in desperate need of a strong result. The 19-year-old was on a run of just one top-nine finish in his previous 10 Grand Prix starts.

The Bologna-born starlet responded in style, though. He out-qualified Mercedes team-mate George Russell on Saturday, and spent the majority of Sunday’s Grand Prix hounding Williams driver Carlos Sainz for the final spot on the podium. When the chequered flag waved in Baku, Antonelli was classified in fourth place.

“After Monza, I had a big meeting with the team, and that helped a lot as well to shift the focus,” the rookie explained ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix. “It was good. I think after Monza, many things changed.

“And everything since then has gone smoothly and as planned. So we just need to keep focusing on the process, on driving well and do everything right, and then the results will come.”

Antonelli’s resurgence is a welcome boost for Toto Wolff and Mercedes, as the Silver Arrows are locked into a fierce battle with Ferrari over second place in the Constructors’ Championship.

The Italian’s P4 finish, combined with Russell’s seventh podium of the year, ensured that the Brackley-based squad are four points ahead of their rivals with seven races remaining. Mercedes will need Antonelli to contribute regular points to that fight if they’re to beat the experienced duo of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.

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Antonelli has his own motives, aside from helping his team’s charge. Heading into the Azerbaijan GP, the teenager is only eight points ahead of eighth-placed Alex Albon in the Drivers’ Championship standings.

Then there is the teenager’s contract situation. Antonelli’s current deal expires at the end of the campaign, and while he looks destined to receive a one-year extension, strong performances between now and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December will strengthen his standing in the team when it comes to negotiating his long-term future.

Wolff is adamant that his young prodigy is going nowhere. “All those stories about Kimi going to Williams or Alpine are completely ridiculous,” he stated in Baku. “There’s a zero per cent chance. Kimi will be 100 per cent with Mercedes in 2026.”