“I’ll bombard myself with melatonin”: Kimi Antonelli admits to driving “tense” and “tired” on cusp of F1 title

Antonelli Struggles with Tension and Illness During Mexico City GP Qualifying

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli is targeting a restorative night of rest ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix, having endured a taxing Saturday where championship hype and the physical aftermath of an illness compounded into a frustrating qualifying performance. Antonelli managed to secure fourth on the grid, yet the Italian acknowledged that the surrounding pressure and his ongoing recovery have created unwanted tension behind the wheel at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

Earlier on Saturday, Antonelli had signaled strong pace by finishing FP3 only 0.001 seconds adrift of McLaren’s Lando Norris. However, when qualifying got underway, the Mercedes rookie could not replicate that sharpness, trailing team-mate George Russell and struggling to find rear stability and total confidence. While Antonelli relied on preparation “build” laps to bring his tires into the optimal operating window, Russell chose to skip the extra warm-up on his decisive Q3 run. Russell’s aggressive approach briefly positioned him on the front row before Lewis Hamilton clinched his first pole position with Ferrari—marking the 105th pole of his Formula 1 career—by a margin of just 0.009 seconds.

Battling Fatigue and Championship Speculation

Beyond technical balance, Antonelli’s weekend was disrupted early when a high fever forced him to skip Thursday’s scheduled media sessions. Although he has gradually regained strength, the physical toll left him lacking crucial stamina on Saturday afternoon, a problem aggravated by constant media speculation regarding his Formula 1 title prospects.

I feel very tired – I still haven’t recovered completely and it hasn’t been an easy weekend, to be fair, Antonelli explained. I’ve definitely been a bit more tense than usual, especially when you keep hearing, wherever you go, any time of the day, the same thing. And people telling me that it’s already done, and knowing myself, I’ve been trying to block as much as possible this noise.

But it hasn’t been easy, and definitely I’ve been a bit more tense today. But I felt decent in Q2, especially on the used tyre, but then on the Q3, on the new tyre, I struggled to put a lap together, just to find the grip. But I feel we have a good chance tomorrow, still P4, and we saved a set of new tyres, so hopefully we can use that and move forward.

Reflecting further on his physical setbacks, Antonelli noted that his condition earlier in the week was very bad – I had a high fever and stomach problems and cited sleep deprivation as the primary lingering issue that contributed to uncharacteristic driving errors during his timed attempts.

Strategy and Race Day Outlook from P4

Looking ahead to the 71-lap grand prix, Antonelli is realistic regarding the competitive hierarchy, conceding that Mercedes may face an uphill battle against Ferrari’s race-trim pace. However, starting from fourth offers strategic opportunities, particularly given the long 800-meter slipstream run from the starting grid down into Turn 1.

It’s a long run into Turn 1, so it’s going to be important to get off the line well, and hopefully we can gain a couple of places, Antonelli said. Of course, we’ll have to stay out of trouble as well, because Turn 1 is always very tricky, but I think if we get a good start, we have a good chance to move forward. I think the race pace is still not as strong as Ferrari, but I think we can still do well.

I think today, tiredness was a big factor, but as well, I think I didn’t really put the lap together. I did a lot of mistakes here and there, so obviously it’s disappointing, but I’ll try to sleep well tonight.

I’m aware that I haven’t been driving well. I was already going into qualifying and I didn’t feel great, and I felt a bit low on energy. It’s not an excuse, but for sure, it doesn’t mean my finest, he added. I’m going to bombard myself with melatonin, so hopefully I will sleep a good 10 hours. I’m just going to try to relax as much as possible. My family has just arrived, so it’s going to be good to have them here. I’m just going to try to disconnect as much as possible, go to sleep, and then I’m ready for tomorrow.

Why This Matters

Navigating the immense physical demands of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez—situated more than 2,200 meters above sea level in thin air—is challenging even under ideal conditions. For a driver recovering from illness, the physical drain is heightened significantly. Antonelli’s ability to salvage a fourth-place qualifying berth keeps Mercedes firmly in podium contention alongside George Russell, while also providing valuable protection of tire inventory. Furthermore, with Lewis Hamilton finding breakthrough qualifying form for Ferrari, the battle for supremacy at the front of the field will test both Mercedes’ mechanical execution and Antonelli’s physical endurance over 71 demanding laps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where will Kimi Antonelli start the Mexico City Grand Prix?

Kimi Antonelli qualified in fourth position (P4) for the Mexico City Grand Prix, placing his Mercedes on the second row of the grid.

What physical issues has Kimi Antonelli faced during the Mexico City GP weekend?

Antonelli suffered from a high fever and stomach issues earlier in the week, which led him to sit out media duties on Thursday. While recovering, he cited ongoing exhaustion and a lack of sleep as factors hindering his qualifying pace.

Who claimed pole position for the Mexico City Grand Prix?

Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton secured pole position—his first for the Scuderia and the 105th of his Formula 1 career—by beating Mercedes’ George Russell by a margin of 0.009 seconds.