Mercedes' technical director James Allison has openly acknowledged that the team's development missteps have significantly impacted rookie driver Kimi Antonelli's performance in the 2025 Formula 1 season. Antonelli, who is just 18 years old, has faced a series of disappointing results after a promising start that included a podium finish in Canada.

Since his third-place finish in Montreal, Antonelli has struggled to maintain form, experiencing multiple retirements and poor finishes, including a 17th place in the Belgian sprint race and 16th in the main grand prix. The Italian driver, who made history as the youngest ever race leader in Miami, has admitted to losing confidence in the car and not performing as he would like.

Allison explained that the team has taken wrong steps in developing the car, which has made it less competitive. This has not only affected Antonelli but also his teammate George Russell. Allison emphasized that the car's current state makes it challenging for a rookie to navigate through the qualifying stages successfully.

Despite the struggles, Allison remains hopeful that Antonelli will take solace in the team's reassurance and continued support. He highlighted that the team is fully aware of Antonelli's efforts and is committed to improving the car to enhance his performance.

Mercedes currently stands third in the constructor's championship, 28 points behind Ferrari. Russell has secured one win and five podium finishes, accumulating 157 points compared to Antonelli's 63. The team is calling for a meeting to address the issues following the Belgian Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton, who moved to Ferrari and made way for Antonelli, has shown his support for the young driver. After the qualifying session at Spa, Hamilton encouraged Antonelli to keep his head up and remain confident, acknowledging the challenges of being a rookie in Formula 1.

As Mercedes works to rectify their development errors, the focus remains on supporting Antonelli through his challenging rookie season and improving the car's performance for future races.