Mercedes say Kimi Antonelli was on the brink of retiring in Mexico City before holding on for P3

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Mercedes has disclosed that Kimi Antonelli was “right on the edge of retirement” during the late stages of the Mexico City Grand Prix, after problems on his car were only identified once the race was over. Antonelli ultimately stayed on track until the chequered flag and claimed a P3 finish that delivered his maiden World Championship.

In the build-up to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Antonelli’s path to the title required him to outscore his closest title rivals, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, by just two points. Instead of relying on that tight margin, he went beyond the minimum by finishing third, behind race winner Max Verstappen and Hamilton.

Mercedes’ Deputy Team Principal Bradley Lord explained that the issue was discovered during post-race inspection. “We got the car back after the race, took the floor off the bottom – covered in oil!” Lord said on the High Performance Racing podcast. He added that the “sump cracked” and that Antonelli estimated that he could feel the engine struggling from about four laps from the end.

Lord said the situation meant Antonelli was close to being forced out, but that “it held together.” The explanation underscores the difference between the race-running state and the cause discovered later: Mercedes determined the nature of the damage after the event, rather than it being officially reported during the closing laps.

Antonelli’s title-clinching result was also shaped by a key on-track pass. Mercedes described a bold overtake on Charles Leclerc that moved Antonelli from P4 to the podium, setting up a rostrum that combined an extensive era of championship experience. According to Lord, the podium featured “a magnificent 12 Drivers’ Championships in total,” contributing to an emotional celebration involving Verstappen, Hamilton and Antonelli.

When asked why Antonelli attempted such a move, Lord pointed to racing instincts and the specific conditions at the restart. “He's a racer and that was what was going to put him on the podium,” Lord said. He added that Leclerc had suffered a “massive lock-up at the restart,” leaving the tyre “down to the canvas,” and suggested that the team had been discussing whether Leclerc needed to box as a result.

Lord characterized Antonelli’s decision-making at the restart restart as an opportunity he recognized in real time. “Kimi saw an opportunity and it was, I think, the cleanest Turn 1 overtake we saw all day – on the brakes, ran him through the apex, and it was absolutely brilliant,” Lord said, describing both the braking approach and the clean line through the corner.

In further reflections, Lord cited Antonelli’s ability to maximize performance under degrading tyre conditions, referencing how he capitalized on key moments even in Singapore earlier in the season. Lord also said the wider significance of the weekend became clear once the podium came together, adding: “Toto [Wolff] was cool. We realised what it brought about as well – suddenly you've got this podium of Max, Lewis, and Kimi.”