Bottas reintroduced Antonelli to the track at Suzuka.

      "I felt quite lost and lacked confidence."

      Valtteri Bottas deserves recognition for helping Kimi Antonelli find his footing at Suzuka. This perspective comes from the Mercedes team at Suzuka, as reported by Auto Motor und Sport’s Formula 1 editor Michael Schmidt. After losing his seat at Sauber, former Mercedes race winner Bottas returned to the German team this season to maintain his visibility in the paddock. The Finn had a 'TPC' test day with McLaren last week, as he might also be called upon by that Mercedes-powered team to race if needed in 2025. At 35, Bottas is already associated with Cadillac for 2026, but for now, he is attending all Grand Prix events as Mercedes' reserve driver, also fulfilling a mentor role for 18-year-old rookie Antonelli.

      "I’m not going to lie," the young Italian confessed after qualifying at Suzuka, "I felt quite lost and lacked confidence." In the end, Antonelli qualified P6, just two tenths and one position behind his well-performing teammate George Russell. Schmidt from Auto Motor und Sport stated that Bottas provided Antonelli with valuable advice and mentorship. "He encountered issues consistently in the first sector," the German noted. "The tyre temperature was not optimal at the beginning of the lap. According to Mercedes, Bottas excelled at coaching. He offered tips on how to achieve the right tyre temperature to ensure grip in that initial sector. It paid off in all his subsequent runs."