Bottas Put Antonelli Back On Track At Suzuka

2025 Japanese Grand Prix, Sunday - Valtteri Bottas (image courtesy Mercedes)
2025 Japanese Grand Prix, Sunday - Valtteri Bottas (image courtesy Mercedes)
2025 Japanese Grand Prix, Sunday - Valtteri Bottas (image courtesy Mercedes)
2025 Japanese Grand Prix, Sunday - Valtteri Bottas (image courtesy Mercedes)

Valtteri Bottas deserves some credit for getting Kimi Antonelli up to speed at Suzuka.

That’s the view of the Mercedes team at Suzuka, according to Auto Motor und Sport’s Formula 1 editor Michael Schmidt.

Having lost his Sauber seat, former Mercedes race winner Bottas returned to the German marque this season to keep his name and face in the paddock.

The Finn enjoyed a ‘TPC’ test day with McLaren last week, as he could also be called up by that Mercedes-powered team to race if required in 2025.

Bottas, 35, is already linked with Cadillac for 2026, but until then, he is attending all grands prix as Mercedes’ reserve driver – with duties doubling up as a kind of ‘mentor’ to 18-year-old rookie Antonelli.

“I’m not going to lie,” the teenage Italian admitted after qualifying at Suzuka, “I was pretty lost and had very little confidence.”

Ultimately, Antonelli qualified P6, just two-tenths and one place behind his on-form teammate George Russell.

Auto Motor und Sport’s Schmidt claims Bottas gave Antonelli valuable advice and guidance. “He had problems all the time in the first sector,” the German explained.

“The tyre temperature wasn’t right at the start of the lap. According to Mercedes, Bottas did a very good job of coaching. He gave some tips on how to get the tyre temperature right so that he has grip in that first sector.

“It worked in all of the runs after that.”

From F1 news to tech, history to opinions, F1 Chronicle has a free Substack. To deliver the stories you want straight to your inbox, click here.

New to Formula 1? Check out our Glossary of F1 Terms, and our Beginners Guide to Formula 1 to fast-track your F1 knowledge.

Comments

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

More in News

2025 Spanish Grand Prix, Sunday - Toto Wolff (image courtesy Mercedes)

Angry Taxi Drivers Hit Back At Mercedes’ Toto Wolff

Italian taxi drivers have amusingly returned fire at Mercedes team ...
Was Crashgate A Real Thing? - Piquet Never Intended To 'Harm' Massa

Briatore ‘Never Spoke’ With Piquet About Crashgate

Flavio Briatore has reiterated his innocence some decade and a ...
F1 Grand Prix Of Abu Dhabi Practice

Verstappen Deserved FIA’s Spanish GP Slap – Marko

Dr Helmut Marko says Max Verstappen deserved to be penalised ...
Oracle Red Bull Racing Filming Day

Russell Collision ‘Shouldn’t Have Happened’ Says Verstappen

Max Verstappen has taken to social media to address his ...
2025 Spanish Grand Prix 0 George Russell (image courtesy Mercedes)

Russell Suggests Verstappen’s Move In Spanish GP Clash Was ‘Deliberate’

In the aftermath of the Spanish Grand Prix, George Russell ...

Trending on F1 Chronicle