Italian driver Kimi Antonelli produced an extraordinary turnaround over Saturday and Sunday at the F1 Japanese GP, and it has been revealed that Mercedes reserve Valtteri Bottas played a role in that, with Fred Vesti also getting recognition.
The former PREMA driver had been due to test a Super Formula car at Suzuka in December but had to pull out as he was unwell. It left him without any experience of the track prior to the weekend.
Kimi Antonelli struggles through practice at the F1 Japanese GP
Following a pretty encouraging FP1 for the Italian as he was half a second off Mercedes teammate George Russell in his first session at Suzuka, he made no progress ahead of F1 Japanese GP qualifying. In fact, the gap had ballooned out to a second in final practice.
Come qualifying, however, he made huge progress to put his W16 on the third row alongside Russell. 0.2s separated the pair as fantastic progress was made.
In the Grand Prix itself, he did over 30 laps on the mediums, extending his first stint and pushing like crazy on the hards..Antonelli ended up just over a second behind his teammate at the flag, showcasing a remarkable turnaround.
He set the fastest lap (a track record in the process), and led laps as well, becoming the youngest driver to do so for both these stats.
Mercedes returnee Valtteri Bottas and his huge role in helping Kimi Antonelli turn his weekend around at the F1 Japanese GP
Following the decision of Sauber to put Gabriel Bortoleto alongside Nico Hülkenberg this year, Valtteri Bottas returned to Mercedes as a reserve driver.
The 10-time race winner, including at Suzuka in 2019, helped Mercedes win five straight F1 Constructors’ Championship in his previous spell at the team.
Speaking in a print media session after the F1 Japanese GP as Toto Wolff skipped this round, Mercedes chief communication officer Bradley Lord explained that Valtteri Bottas helped Kimi Antonelli ahead of qualifying, as well as generally giving tips here and there through the year so far.
The Italian openly admitted he was struggling to get the tyres in the working window in Sector 1 at the start of a single lap, and this is where the Finn came in to help.
“I mean the step Valtteri’s made this year is not an easy one for any driver. And we were sort of chatting in Melbourne, kind of saying, ‘you know, how is it?’ And he’s like, ‘it’s weird, you know, I want to be out there’.
“But the way he’s approached the opportunity he has to add value and strengthen the team has been really impressive.
“So, from the off in Melbourne, even to some extent in testing as well, he’s just been offering bits of advice, also sensitive to when a driver is receptive to advice and when they’re not.
“And then particularly for here, you know, just conscious that Kimi had missed the Super Formula test that he was looking to do at the end of last year and hadn’t been here before.
“He’s just worked with him and sat down on Thursday and then again before qualifying as well. Just giving him some of his observations, what he could see from the onboards and his knowledge of the circuit.
Fred Vesti will run in FP1 at Bahrain for Mercedes
As well as highlighting what Valtteri Bottas did to help Kimi Antonelli, Lord praised another Mercedes F1 reserve Fred Vesti for the incredible work he has put in back at base in Brackley.
The Danish driver will drive in FP1 next week as part of the rookie running each team must do four times in 2025.
“So, it’s been a real team effort and it’s worth saying as well, Valtteri’s here at the track, Fred Vesti, who’s back at base this weekend in the simulator, he’s done the most miles of anyone in the W16, albeit all of them virtual so far.
“And yeah, it just goes to show what a team effort it is in order to try and bring in a rookie like Kimi without a huge amount of experience and help them to perform to their potential from the off.
“What’s nice for Fred as well is he will get FP1 in Bahrain and so he has his first taste of the car in real life as well next Friday.”
