A filmmaker with a soft spot for Ronnie Peterson, Gilles Villeneuve, Mika Hakkinen and above all, Tazio Nuvolari and Ayrton Senna, is also a diehard Formula One fan since the age of 4 (mid-90's). An avid researcher of the past of Grand Prix Racing since before it was even named F1, and with a thirst for knowledge of the ins and outs of the actuality of the sport, as well as for the technical aspects that define it, is a member of GPblog since 2023, where he has put his love of racing to good use.
Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli has had an abismal run recently marred by retirements, penalties and two Q1 exits. Former F1 driver and current Sky Sports analyst Martin Brundle has sounded the alarms for Mercedes.
Apart from a Miami, Antonelli has ever qualified behind teammate George Russell, and in Spa he registered his two worst qualifying results to date, with a P20 (last) for the Sprint, and a P18 for the Grand Prix tomorrow.
In the races it has not gone that much better as of late. His first podium ever in Canada was a glimpse of what was possible, but since then that possibility has been far from materialising in recent races, with two crashes ending his outings in Austria and Silverstone prematurely.
Of course, there's a caveat, in Silverstone the conditions were appalling and he was taken out in a fault-less incident with fellow rookie Isack Hadjar.
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Martin Brundles signals crisis for Antonelli and urges Mercedes not to worsen it
Speaking in Sky Sports F1 broadcast, Brundle addressed the Italian's tough period. "Antonelli is in a really difficult phase, and the team need to make sure that doesn’t turn into a crisis for such a young man under so much pressure."
His sterling drive in the season opener at Melbourne, and his later podium in Canada seemed to have prompted the Britishanalyst to misjudge Antonelli as being past the natural rookie mistakes.
"Melbourne was an incredible performance for him in the most challenging conditions, then he got his podium in Canada."
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"Somehow, the mistakes have crept in later than I thought they would. And then I think he’s in a bit of a spiral situation at the moment."
However, Brundle gives the young start a vote of confidence in what can only be described as trying times concluding that "He can turn it around."
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