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Mercedes Simulator Scandal: How a Fault Ruined Kimi Antonelli’s Race Dreams!

Carl Smith by Carl Smith
September 25, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
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Mercedes Simulator Scandal: How a Fault Ruined Kimi Antonelli’s Race Dreams!

Formula One F1 - Hungarian Grand Prix - Hungaroring, Budapest, Hungary - August 2, 2025 Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli ahead of practice REUTERS/Jakub Porzycki

MERCEDES TAKES THE HEAT: KIMI ANTONELLI’S STRUGGLES EXPOSED!

In a startling revelation that has sent shockwaves through the motorsport community, Mercedes has confessed to its role in the recent turmoil surrounding young Italian driver Kimi Antonelli. After a lackluster performance that left fans and critics questioning his prowess, Antonelli roared back to form with an impressive fourth place finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, silencing his doubters—at least for now.

But behind this commendable comeback lies a tangled web of issues stemming from Mercedes itself. Antonelli’s earlier performances at the Italian and Dutch Grands Prix were marred by critical errors, leading to sharp criticism from team principal Toto Wolff, who labeled the results as “underwhelming.” The pressure mounted for Antonelli, especially after his mishaps during practice sessions at Monza and Zandvoort, where mistakes could have derailed his season entirely.

The drama unfolded further when Mercedes revealed that a catastrophic failure of their simulator had severely hindered Antonelli’s preparation for the crucial double-header races in Zandvoort and Monza. With limited practice time and a malfunctioning simulator, Antonelli’s performance was compromised, earning him a mere two points from these events. To make matters worse, the running he did manage was conducted under conditions that did not accurately reflect track grip levels, leaving him ill-prepared for the harsh realities of race day.

Andrew Shovlin, Mercedes’ trackside engineering director, candidly discussed the impact of these simulator issues. “With Zandvoort, he came in for a simulator session, and we had some issues that meant he wasn’t really able to do the prep there. He then makes a mistake in FP1. Well, I think we need to own a bit of that responsibility and that we couldn’t do the normal prep,” Shovlin admitted, shedding light on the behind-the-scenes chaos that contributed to Antonelli’s struggles.

Antonelli himself acknowledged the importance of practice in his resurgence at Baku, where he expressed disappointment over narrowly missing out on a podium finish. “It’s been a difficult period with the European season, with all the criticism and difficult moments,” he stated. “But we managed to do a good result and now the important thing is to do this consistently.”

Wolff has since praised Antonelli for his resilience, describing the Baku performance as a “really good rebound.” After a challenging European season, he emphasized the importance of consolidating this newfound form. “Coming in here with a solid P4, running in the front group, that’s something to continue to build on,” he declared, while also acknowledging that Antonelli is fully aware of the high expectations placed upon him.

The candid discussions between Antonelli and Wolff serve as a testament to the dynamic within the Mercedes team, where honesty reigns supreme. “We always speak very openly with each other. There’s no such thing as holding back,” Wolff remarked, reinforcing the necessity for accountability in the high-stakes world of Formula 1.

As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Antonelli to see if he can maintain this momentum and prove he’s more than just a flash in the pan. With Mercedes owning up to its faults, the pressure is on not just Antonelli but the entire team to deliver the performances that fans expect. Will Antonelli’s recent success be the turning point in his career? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: the stakes have never been higher!

Tags: 1958-formula-1-seasonAndrea Kimi Antonelliandrew-shovlinjamarr-chases-mercedes-maybachToto Wolff
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