Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli believes the workforce’s ill-fated suspension change value him “two or three months” of growth throughout his first System 1 season.
Mercedes launched a tweaked rear suspension geometry at Imola’s Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, again in Could, because it additional tried to residence in on its relative lack of low-speed efficiency and its rear tyre temperature points, taking inspiration from what McLaren’s class main MCL39 was doing on the rear of the automotive.
However that replace launched instability to the again finish, and whereas skilled George Russell managed to drive across the points to some extent, rookie Antonelli had a a lot more durable time.
Following a promising begin to the yr, Antonelli’s kind tanked over the beginning of the European season, sapping him of confidence. As Mercedes reverted its suspension modifications, Antonelli slowly rebuilt his confidence and went on to get pleasure from a stable remaining leg of his rookie yr.
“I feel I’ve misplaced a superb two or three months of progress,” Antonelli lately mirrored on the technical curveball thrown his approach. “Clearly, I struggled with the rear finish greater than George. I struggled extra to adapt, primarily to do my driving fashion.
“It was a tough interval as a result of I simply saved shedding confidence, driving tremendous tense and I simply actually struggled to make any progress. And clearly if I both was in a position to adapt higher or if both I might have gone again earlier to the suspension, in all probability it will have been a bit totally different, and I might have been in a position to construct momentum already on the finish of the European season or midway by way of it.”
Andrew Shovlin, trackside engineering director Mercedes (proper)
Picture by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Pictures
Mercedes’ trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin stated Antonelli is now a way more rounded grand prix driver because of this, with the Italian’s means to nail qualifying periods the largest space of enchancment.
“We anticipated lengthy runs to be the toughest, however he was sturdy there instantly,” Shovlin stated. “Single-lap efficiency took extra work. Studying to belief the tyres and generate temperature early was key.
“He now understands the stream of a race weekend a lot better. His means to explain what the automotive is doing has all the time been sturdy, which is among the most essential issues.
“Over time, he’s constructing a database of trigger and impact with setup modifications. A key space is studying how laborious to push — not under- or over-hitting. Budapest was an instance the place he overcooked it. Towards the top of the yr, as outcomes improved, he generally overdid it in Q3 after sturdy Q1 and Q2 performances.
“These are particulars drivers with a few years of expertise have discovered the laborious approach. What’s good with Kimi is that after he learns one thing, it sticks. He’s not repeating the identical errors. General, we’re very a lot on monitor with him.”
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