Source: Official Team Post via X
Kimi Antonelli Evaluates Mercedes Upgrades After US GP Victory
Kimi Antonelli clinched victory at the United States Grand Prix but remains cautious about Mercedes' recent upgrades. He acknowledges improvements but notes the upgrades aren't fully meeting expectations.
Kimi Antonelli, the Italian driver for Mercedes, secured a significant victory at the United States Grand Prix, yet he remains measured in his assessment of the team's recent upgrades. Despite taking the win, Antonelli admits that the upgrades have not entirely lived up to the team's expectations.
Competing in Austin, Antonelli converted his pole position into a ninth victory of the 2026 season, inching closer to his first Formula 1 Drivers’ title. He managed to maintain his lead from the start, despite opting for the medium tyre, unlike the softer compounds chosen by Red Bull and Ferrari.
"We didn’t have any new softs, so the new medium was the only choice we really had," Antonelli explained. "The medium was not amazing, but today the best tyre was the hard, which was a pleasant surprise."
Mercedes decided against matching Red Bull's early pit strategy when Max Verstappen pitted on Lap 13, choosing instead to stick to a one-stop strategy. Antonelli admitted some initial skepticism about this decision. "I was a bit concerned in the beginning, but we were able to extend, and actually the pace came back with the medium," he said.
His win marks the first triumph for Mercedes since they introduced a substantial upgrade package at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia earlier this month. While the initial debut of the package in Sepang was underwhelming, and George Russell struggled in Austin, Antonelli believes the upgrades are beginning to show promise.
"In some places, the upgrades are delivering well, but still not as much as we expected overall," Antonelli noted. "The car is strong in high-and medium-speed areas, but we still struggle with front locking at low speed."
As Antonelli heads to Mexico, he can secure the championship with a ninth-place finish. However, he insists his approach will remain the same. "I’m going to approach it with the same mindset, trying to have fun and hopefully fight for another win," he stated.
With his eye on both the championship and enjoying the remainder of the season, Antonelli's pragmatic yet optimistic outlook remains a key part of his strategy.