Kimi Antonelli has shared an insight into how he was affected by the struggles he experienced during his 2025 rookie season, with the Italian feeling that he let the pressure \u201cdestroy\u201d him \u2013 whilst also admitting the experience made him \u201clearn a lot\u201d about himself.<\/p>\n
Following the news that Lewis Hamilton<\/a> would depart Mercedes<\/a> for Ferrari, the Silver Arrows opted to promote Antonelli<\/a> to the squad, the youngster having enjoyed a rapid climb through the ranks that saw him bypass F3 and go straight to F2.<\/p>\n After a good start to his debut season, Antonelli then faced a tougher spell during the European leg of the campaign \u2013 a period in which he has conceded that he felt he was letting down those who had believed in him.<\/p>\n Asked during an appearance on SAP\u2019s Significant Figures podcast<\/a> if he felt pressure when he arrived into F1, the 19-year-old explained: \u201cI think mostly last year I felt this, because obviously I\u2019ve had a good start of the season, then I\u2019ve had a difficult period, the European season, where I really struggle.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd in that moment I felt\u2026 I let the pressure kind of destroy me as well during that period, because I felt like I was letting down so many people who had believed in me \u2013 especially Toto [Wolff]<\/a>, because he was the main one who took the decision.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t feel good in that period \u2013 I wasn\u2019t doing well, but then I had a big meeting with the team after the European season, and it kind of allowed me to reset and just start again. I slowly found my way back, and then I had a good second half of the season.<\/p>\n \u201cThat gave me the confidence, being able to overcome those difficult moments, and gave me the confidence I have this year. It also made me learn a lot about myself, not only as a driver but as a person as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Pushed on what those learnings were, Antonelli responded: \u201cIn that European season, most of the things I\u2019ve done didn\u2019t help me at all!<\/p>\n \u201cBut also I\u2019ve learned about how my body responds to those moments, how my brain responds, what helps myself get back into the right focus, the right mindset…. What helps me to stay 100% in terms of energy during the whole weekend, so how to manage myself with events, obviously the driving and everything.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I learned a lot about myself, and how as well to respond to difficult moments.\u201d<\/p>\n Antonelli went on to reflect on just how much he had to learn during 2025, leaving him feeling \u201cdrained\u201d at the end of the year.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like obviously the team did an incredible job on trying to protect me, but the learning curve\u2026 I think I\u2019ve learned much more than if I would have gone in a smaller team,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI felt the learning curve was incredible \u2013 it felt like doing three years at once, and it was overwhelming, physically, mentally, because I\u2019ve had so many new experiences as well.\u201d<\/p>\n