Antonelli: “It was the best start we could have wished for” after Mercedes 1-2 in Australia

Written by Kavi Khandelwal

Mercedes’ new era began with a definitive statement at Albert Park as Kimi Antonelli secured a second-place finish, anchoring a dominant 1-2 for the team.

Credit: Formula One

While the result looked polished on the timing screens, the Italian’s path to the podium was a relentless exercise in recovery following a chaotic opening lap that saw him drop from second on the grid to seventh.

Once the race settled, Antonelli’s pace became the class of the field, allowing him to carve through the pack and finish just three seconds behind his teammate.

Reflecting on the result after the race, Antonelli was quick to praise the team’s overall standing. He noted that "it was the best start we could have wished for," even if his own journey to the podium was far from straightforward.

The young driver was candid about the opening moments of the Grand Prix, admitting that "unfortunately, the start was really bad and I lost a lot of place." He explained, realising "that I have to recover," but he remained highly encouraged by the performance of his Mercedes.

The recovery was aided by a decisive strategic call from the Mercedes pit wall. While rivals at Ferrari chose to stay out during a mid-race virtual safety car, Antonelli was brought in for a fresh set of hard tires.

This allowed him to unleash the full potential of the car in the second half of the race. Antonelli stayed focused on the positives of the car’s long-run capabilities, stating that "overall, it was a good race" and emphasizing that "the pace was very strong, especially at the end."

Antonelli also spoke highly of the new technical regulations and how they impacted the wheel-to-wheel combat on track. "The racing was incredible," he observed, noting that "the overtake is so powerful that it can, you know, give a lot of action."

He described the intense battles during his climb back up the order as "really good fun at the beginning" and seemed energized by the competitive nature of the new era.

Despite the stress of the early-race deficit, the composure shown by the sophomore driver served as a warning to the rest of the paddock. By the time the checkered flag fell, he had gapped the third-placed Ferrari by thirteen seconds, turning a difficult start into a statement of intent.

Antonelli concluded his weekend in Melbourne by saying he was "looking forward to next week" in China after getting "a bit of rest."