Kimi Antonelli has shared insights on how the adjustments made by Mercedes during Friday’s practice sessions at the Mexican GP resulted in a mixed bag for the team.
Antonelli secured second and third place in the two sessions, marking his first time finishing in the top three for both Friday practices. The Italian rookie notably outpaced his teammate George Russell by nearly three-tenths of a second in FP2.
During his inaugural visit to Mexico, Antonelli expressed his enthusiasm, calling it “the best Friday in a long time,” while also highlighting track evolution as a potential challenge that could see Mercedes lose ground.
“It was a decent Friday, probably one of the best Fridays I’ve had in a long time,” Antonelli reflected.
“I think FP1 was great, but FP2 was a bit more challenging as we experimented with some setup changes. While we improved the car in certain areas, we also made it a bit worse in others.
“However, we gathered a lot of valuable data from these two sessions.
“I encountered a minor issue with the engine at the start of the session and again halfway through my second lap, which slightly disrupted our run plan.
“I felt a bit rushed with everything, but we still managed to complete all the necessary laps, which was the most important part, and we did so with competitive times.
“It would be fantastic to be at the front on Saturday; the pace looks promising.
“But of course, Saturday will bring new challenges. The track will evolve, and it’s crucial for us to adapt both in our driving and with the car.”
