Kimi Antonelli reveals 'safety concern' behind Mercedes change of heart

Kimi Antonelli has said Mercedes moved away from the one-stop strategy "risk" at the Hungarian Grand Prix because the team became "concerned about safety" across the 70-lap race.

Starting from seventh after a three-place grid penalty, the Italian driver was initially running the aggressive alternative approach, which helped carry Lando Norris to victory at the Hungaroring 12 months ago.

It vaulted the 19-year-old into contention for second place, but on Lap 54, the Brackley-based squad brought him in again, citing tyre life as the reason for fresh rubber.

Just two laps later, the Oscar Piastri-induced virtual safety car cost Antonelli track position, falling behind Max Verstappen — and only just staving off Lewis Hamilton — in what would ultimately become third place and the final spot on the podium in Budapest.

"I think today we maximised the result," he told media, including RacingNews365. "Obviously, we were a bit lucky with the VSC — with Oscar’s issue.

"But other than that, we did the best we could. Conditions were quite difficult today, struggling a little bit with oversteer, balance and then understeer. So, yeah, conditions were not easy today, but I’m happy with the result."

The six-time grand prix winner was unsure, however, whether he could have fought Norris for victory, had he started where he originally qualified before his three-place grid penalty for a yellow flag infringement in the grid-setting session.

"I don’t know," Antonelli said. "If I’d started P3, then it would have been another thing. But I think Lando still had the upper hand this weekend, even on us.

"On pure pace, I don’t think I would have been able to challenge him, especially with how difficult it was to follow as well, with a lot of tyre overheating. So, I think it would have been very difficult."

Nonetheless, and despite the pivot back to a more conventional strategy, the Mercedes driver was full of praise for his team, after extending his advantage over Hamilton and team-mate George Russell in the F1 drivers' championship fight to 50 and 69 points, respectively.

"But other than that, it was a great team effort," he added. "Also, with strategy, we took a risk initially and then we pulled back a little bit because we were a bit concerned about safety.

"But still, despite that, they put me in a position to fight for, eventually, the podium. So, it was a great team effort."