Antonelli Reveals New Strategy After First F1 Podium

Andrea Kimi Antonelli admits that his debut crash at last year’s Italian GP still influences his driving style — an incident for which Mercedes boss Toto Wolff took responsibility.

After securing his first podium with third place in the Canadian GP, Hamilton’s replacement reveals his new approach for upcoming races.

“The Canadian GP was really important for me. It wasn’t just a relief, but also an achievement after coming close to podium finishes in Australia and Miami,” says Antonelli.

The young driver acknowledges being too cautious in free practice sessions — a consequence of the Monza crash:

• Often delayed in setting fast times
• Needed more laps to build confidence
• Too conservative in exploring car grip

“I believe I overcorrected after what happened in Monza, and now I’m too much on the safe side. Now is the time to step forward, because F1 is super tight and the gaps are so close,” he adds ahead of this weekend’s Austrian GP.