Tom Coronel ‘convinced’ one F1 rookie would be doing a better job than Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes this season

Follow us on Google Discover

Kimi Antonelli has had a mixed start to his Formula 1 career with Mercedes in 2025, experiencing one extreme after the other.

It is beyond question that the 18-year-old has enjoyed some success with the Silver Arrows this season. Antonelli broke Max Verstappen’s record as the youngest Grand Prix leader in 2025, as he briefly led the Japanese GP.

Antonelli became the youngest driver to take pole position in any format for the Sprint in Miami, before claiming his maiden podium in Canada with P3. However, that top-three finish has been the only points he has scored in the last six races.

The Italian is on a torrid run of form heading into the Belgian Grand Prix, with mechanical failures forcing him to retire at Imola and Barcelona. Antonelli crashed out of the last two events, taking out Verstappen in Austria and being wiped out by Isack Hadjar at Silverstone.

The 18-year-old is seventh in the standings with 63 points, sitting 84 points behind teammate George Russell. Mercedes have fallen to third in the constructors’ championship behind Ferrari, having scored 11 points in the last two races.

Russell has scored all of those points, as Antonelli desperately struggles to revive his form. Some people have started to question the Italian in recent weeks, with Dutch pundit Tom Coronel going as far as to say that another rookie would have done better at Mercedes.

Tom Coronel ‘convinced’ that Gabriel Bortoleto would be doing better than Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes

Antonelli was one of four F2 drivers to make the step up to F1 in 2025. The Mercedes driver finished sixth in the championship, as the title was won by Gabriel Bortoleto, who would later leave McLaren and join Sauber, soon to be Audi.

The Brazilian has been hugely impressive for the Hinwil-based outfit, regularly outqualifying Nico Hulkenberg and scoring his maiden points in F1 in Austria. Speaking via RacingNews365, Coronel believes the Brazilian would have Mercedes in a better position than Antonelli currently has them.

“I think Toto [Wolff], if you had had two good drivers, your team would have been a lot further along now, or two experienced drivers,” he said.

“Because I can see that Russell still has the upper hand over Antonelli, and I expected that difference. But, the kilometres that Antonelli also made during the winter, then I thought, that the difference is smaller.

“He came in with a lot of hope, the next Verstappen, that’s what everyone thought of him. Well, he’s not even close. If I were you, I’m convinced that if you had put Bortoleto in that car, you would have been much further along now.

“Well, in terms of results, I am convinced that he would have been a bit further ahead. But just look at the Formula 2 championship, there you can already see that Bortoleto became champion. And yes, sorry Antonelli, you weren’t dominant there either. Not at all.”

READ MORE: Know all about 2025 Mercedes F1 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli including stats

Mercedes have work to do with Kimi Antonelli as his confidence takes a huge knock

Antonelli has huge potential in F1, which he has shown in flashes in 2025. However, unfortunately, mistakes and accidents are starting to creep in, and it is taking its toll on the rookie.

Antonelli lost enthusiasm during the European triple header as he failed to score points. He recovered with his first F1 podium in Canada, only to crash out in the next two races.

Antonelli wants to get over the fear of crashing, stating that he wishes he could ask his idol Ayrton Senna how he managed to overcome it. Clearly, recent races have affected his confidence, and Mercedes will be keen to help him turn it around.

The Silver Arrows plan to bring upgrades to the Belgian GP, which they hope will bring them closer to the frontrunners. However, early signs are not too promising as ‘indications’ say Mercedes’ updates are not McLaren beaters.