Ralf Schumacher suggests Kimi Antonelli needs a ‘mental coach’ to help overcome Mercedes start issue

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Ralf Schumacher believes Kimi Antonelli is showing signs of weakness during race starts, and needs help from Mercedes to address the issue.

Antonelli’s struggles during race starts have been on full display this season, as the Mercedes driver consistently finds himself behind the pack despite starting in the front row each race so far.

Antonelli manages to close the gap and overcome the deficit he creates for himself each time, but his poor starts are only creating more challenges for him.

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This seems to be a larger issue with the team as a whole, with Toto Wolff admitting Mercedes’ starts are a weakness.

However, in Ralf Schumacher’s opinion, Mercedes need to get Kimi Antonelli some professional help, as he thinks his poor starts are down to nerves.

READ MORE: Eddie Irvine tells Toto Wolff why Mercedes can’t use team orders on Kimi Antonelli or George Russell

Ralf Schumacher thinks Kimi Antonelli needs Mercedes to help him with starting struggles

Speaking on the latest episode of Backstage Boxengasse, Ralf Schumacher questioned why Kimi Antonelli is struggling so much during the start of any race.

He believes that the issue comes down to Antonelli’s nervousness, and Mercedes should either provide him with some assistance within the car, or help get him a mental coach to overcome this anxiety.

“That’s a great question. He seems to be very nervous during starts, afraid of making any mistakes now that the pressure is relatively high. Because he had forgotten about the steering wheel issue, so he had to go there with the setting and hoping it would work this time. But it didn’t work again.

“That means you probably need to find a system that’s even easier for him, like lights indicating when, how, and where, clutch, accelerator pedal positions or maybe even a mental coach. This also helps to really reduce nervousness on the weekend. I mean, the kid is 19.

“Everyone is watching him, and now there’s the possibility of the world championship as well. You have to imagine what’s he’s dealing with right now.

“Especially with Toto Wolff, who gave him the chance and to whom he wants to keep proving, and also wanting to prove to himself that he can do it and he deserves the opportunity. I think that pressure can do something to a young man.

“But I’d say, every victory he celebrates now, I think he knows how to carry himself, and the mistakes will reduce over time. I think his teammate is getting more nervous; he just can’t seem to get it right.”

READ MORE: Kimi Antonelli admits he’s already made a ‘dangerous’ decision amid title fight with George Russell

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Ralf Schumacher thinks Kimi Antonelli’s advantage is due to luck and timing

Speaking further during the episode, Schumacher noted that Antonelli’s luck during the Japanese Grand Prix, thanks to a safety car, allowed him to pull ahead and stay ahead.

“Things were different in Melbourne. Russell was probably ahead. This was definitely Kimi. Of course, one cannot forget that after his miserable start, which he himself messed up again with the spin. If he hadn’t had the safety car there, it probably would have been difficult.

“One thing is striking, even in previous races when he drives alone, he consistently achieves top lap times, meaning he is always significantly faster than the rest of the field.

“But of course, only when there isn’t another car in front of him causing turbulence. That obviously helped a lot there. Therefore, it was by far the fastest car and deserved to win, even with a bit of luck…”

Antonelli’s win in Japan allowed him to leapfrog George Russell to become the youngest championship leader in Formula One history.

While some might be worried that Antonelli needs to be protected from expectations so early into the season, the young Italian will be eager to make history this season.