Kimi Antonelli: I think I took a step back.

      Mercedes' best qualifying result at the Belgian Grand Prix was George Russell's sixth place. The British driver stated that the team took a step back and that it is necessary to understand the reasons for the decline in competitiveness. Kimi Antonelli had an unsuccessful qualifying session and was eliminated in the first round. Kimi said he does not feel confident in the car, so the team will adjust the settings before the race, and he will start from the pit lane. George Russell (6th): “I drove very good laps, but obviously, the team doesn't have speed this weekend. Aside from yesterday's sprint qualifying, today was the worst qualifying session of the season for me, as well as Kimi's. We need to understand what is happening. Historically, in sprint weekends, if you perform poorly in the sprint and then completely change the car’s settings, it rarely works. We made some necessary adjustments, but the team has work to do. In the first six races, we had four podiums, but in the last six, only one. It’s clear that we've taken a big step backwards compared to mid-field teams.” Kimi Antonelli (18th): “Since the start of the European part of the season, I've been struggling to feel confident in the car. I feel like I’ve taken a step backwards. I'm going through a tough period—I don’t feel confident and can't attack. Yesterday, when I tried to attack, I spun, and that hit my confidence even more. We know the limitations of our car, but my driving style makes it worse, which only reduces my confidence. I drive more aggressively than George, trying to take corners at higher speeds. Given the car’s limitations, this only worsens the problem. I'm trying to adjust my driving style to improve the car's balance, but it feels unnatural, making it even harder. We will change the settings, so I will start from the pit lane. I hope this gives me an advantage and restores my confidence in the car.”