Rosberg: Mercedes must sign Antonelli immediately to boost confidence

Nico Rosberg, former Mercedes driver, urges his team to immediately sign a contract with Andrea Kimi Antonelli — the young driver who is struggling with performance at the Belgian GP.

After a difficult qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps Circuit, where Antonelli could only manage P18 for the main race and P19 for the sprint race, Rosberg spoke sympathetically to Sky Sports F1.

“In Australia, he almost made it to the podium from the back. He finished fourth. And yes, he could do the same tomorrow, why not?” said Rosberg.

Rosberg emphasized the importance of a new contract to boost the young driver’s confidence:

“What I would do in Toto’s position, I would sign that contract with him. It’s not about big money. And that would give him a significant confidence boost.”

Antonelli currently sits seventh in the drivers’ standings, separated from his teammate George Russell who is fighting in third position. The Italian driver acknowledges that the European season has been a major challenge for him, with several mistakes and technical issues affecting his performance.