Mercedes’ recent performance decline in Formula 1 may be linked to modifications made to their 2025 W16 car, according to their trackside engineering director, Andrew Shovlin. He believes these changes have disproportionately affected rookie driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who lacks the experience to adapt as quickly as teammate George Russell. Shovlin suggested that the updates might have made the car more unpredictable, disrupting Antonelli’s confidence and rhythm behind the wheel.
Antonelli has faced a challenging stretch in the last seven races, managing just one podium finish in Montreal while enduring multiple retirements and non-scoring results. After showing early promise in the season, the Italian has struggled to match Russell’s consistency and pace. Mercedes acknowledges that the car has become more difficult to handle, particularly in race conditions, prompting concerns that their development path may have compromised overall balance and drivability.
Russell, despite also feeling the impact of the W16’s changes, has been able to cope better due to his years of F1 experience. According to Shovlin, Russell’s ability to draw from a deeper well of past knowledge allows him to make the most of a challenging setup, especially during qualifying sessions. In contrast, Antonelli is still learning how to respond to such adversity, making his recent results less surprising in the context of the evolving car dynamics.
The engineering team has remained supportive of Antonelli, emphasizing that their focus should be on fixing the car’s core issues rather than singling out the young driver’s struggles. Shovlin stressed that Antonelli continues to receive strong technical guidance and that the team is united in trying to return to a more stable setup. The goal is to regain a predictable performance baseline that can benefit both drivers, especially as the season progresses into more competitive rounds.
Looking ahead, Shovlin remains confident in Antonelli’s growth and potential. He highlighted that young drivers often thrive when introduced in strong machinery but face greater difficulty when the car becomes less forgiving. Mercedes is planning adjustments between Spa and the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix, but Shovlin cautioned against hasty changes. Instead, he advocated for carefully targeted improvements that allow Antonelli’s natural talent to shine as the team works to recover lost ground.
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