Kimi Antonelli stunned by titanic turnaround after hitting Belgian GP rock-bottom

Kimi Antonelli has conceded to surprising himself at his remarkable turnaround one year on from hitting rock bottom after last season's Belgian Grand Prix.

Antonelli enjoyed a solid start to his debut campaign with Mercedes last term after being tasked with filling the sizeable shoes left by seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton's departure to Ferrari.

The Italian teenager scored points in five of the first six grands prix before hitting the European leg of the season, starting on his home turf of Imola with the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

Antonelli was expected to shine on circuits he knew from his junior career. Instead, one poor result followed another, spliced by a superb first podium, albeit away from Europe in Canada.

In Belgium, Antonelli failed to even make it out Q1, before going on to finish a miserable 16th. It was a performance that sparked considerable criticism and questions as to whether team principal Toto Wolff should continue with his young driver.

Twelve months later, Antonelli was the dominant driver around the Spa-Francorchamps, securing his sixth win of the season from his sixth pole this year to open up a 45-point gap in the drivers' standings, with Hamilton his nearest rival.

Asked if he could have imagined the turnaround, speaking to the media, including RacingNews365, Antonelli said: "No, absolutely not.

"Last year here, I probably reached the bottom. It was a very difficult weekend for me mentally. But this year was definitely a lot better. If you had asked me last year, at this moment, I probably would have said no."

Antonelli, though, did not have it all his own way in the race, particularly after being caught out by a VSC that Ferrari managed to take advantage of with a pit stop and which propelled Charles Leclerc into the lead.

Antonelli, though, slowly reeled in Leclerc, delivering the decisive pass on lap ??. Although Leclerc managed to keep Antonelli in his sights for several laps that followed, he was unable to get close enough to retake the lead.

"It was a hard-fought race," said Antonelli. "The pace was a lot higher than in practice, and it was not easy because Max, in the first stint, was keeping up, and then, obviously, Charles had great pace as well on the hards.

"So, it was not easy because there was also so much deployment difference between all the teams. As well, we were strong in certain parts of the track, but then weak in others.

"So, it definitely was not straightforward, but I’m very happy with it."