Mercedes confess to major mistake harming Kimi Antonelli performance

Mercedes technical director James Allison has launched a strong defence of Kimi Antonelli's recent performances, believing it is the team's fault the Italian is struggling.

After a bright start to his F1 career, including fourth on debut at a tricky wet Australian GP, and a sprint pole in Miami, Antonelli's form has dropped during the European leg of the summer.

Antonelli is yet to score a point in Europe, having retired from four of the six races, and finishing 18th in Monaco and 16th in Belgium as he struggles with the W16 challenger. 

Since Miami, Antonelli has only scored points once, in earning a first F1 podium with third place in Canada, but has suffered mechanical failures at Imola and in Spain, before Isack Hadjar crashed into him in the rain at Silverstone.

During the recent Belgian GP weekend, Antonelli explained that he was lacking confidence in the car, and looked emotional after qualifying 18th fastest after suffering a high-speed spin in sprint qualifying earlier in the weekend.

However, it is not just Antonelli's strong start which has dipped, with team-mate George Russell only scoring one podium in eight races, the win in Canada. 

After looking like a strong contender to finish runner-up to McLaren in the standings, Mercedes has now been overhauled by Ferrari, and is 28 points behind the Scuderia and 28 points ahead of Red Bull in fourth. 

But Allison believes Antonelli's dip in form must be seen within the context of the performance of the car.

"I think he’s, like the rest of us, massively fed up with a string of results that are well below what we were collectively achieving earlier in the year," Allison explained of Antonelli. 

"I hope he takes some solace from the fact that we tell him, and it’s demonstrably a fact, that we have taken the wrong steps with the car, making our team less competitive, and that he is paying the price for that, as is George. 

"If the car isn’t where it needs to be, then it will be a struggle getting through the qualifying stages in your rookie season in F1. 

"It’s utterly clear to all of us that the thing we need to do is make the car better, and then Kimi’s fortunes will reverse with that. 

"And hopefully, he’s listening to us as we say those reassuring words, because we absolutely know that he is putting in the effort on his side of that bargain."