Drivers
Dizzying highs contrasted protracted lows. His first six races yielded 48 points; eight of the following nine saw him score one. A late-season flurry produced a trio of podiums.
It’s an explainable trajectory for a teenage debutant, but not in the way it came about; the European circuits Antonelli was familiar with from the junior categories saw him struggle, while maiden visits to Montreal, Interlagos and Las Vegas saw him bag podiums.
“I started thinking too much about the final result,” Antonelli said, explaining his slump. “I put a lot of pressure on myself and didn’t focus on driving well.”
Lessons learned, the 19-year-old is ideally placed to show why Mercedes was so keen to blood him so early. When you consider Antonelli may be years away from his peak, 2025 is a solid foundation to build upon.
