Mercedes F1 Airflow Issues Spark Kimi Antonelli’s Tough Race

Mercedes is facing a challenge with its engine supply after a power unit issue forced Kimi Antonelli out of the Spanish Grand Prix on June 2. Antonelli was close to scoring points at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, running well after a recent run of tough results.

But a sudden problem with his power unit ended his race early. He had to retire after pulling off into the gravel, prompting a safety car with just a handful of laps remaining and adding uncertainty to the closing stages.

This retirement marked another setback for Antonelli, who last scored points with a sixth-place finish at the Miami Grand Prix in May. Since the Formula 1 season returned to Europe, he has not earned any points.

His retirement in Spain leaves Mercedes searching for answers and working to address reliability concerns. The team’s technical director, James Allison, explained that the failed engine had already been sent back to their Brixworth facility for inspection.

Mercedes is not only considering their team but also their engine customers, including Aston Martin and Williams, as they try to understand and solve the issue. The bigger concern for Mercedes is how this incident affects their engine allocation for the rest of the 2025 Formula 1 calendar.

Each car is limited to four power unit elements per season—covering the internal combustion engine, MGU-H, MGU-K, and turbocharger—before grid penalties are applied. With fifteen races still to run after Spain, losing one component this early puts extra pressure on how carefully the team manages their remaining pool of parts.

If all of Antonelli’s power unit components were lost in the Spanish Grand Prix, Mercedes would need to install a new engine for next week’s Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal. This would mean Antonelli will have used three of his permitted four units for the main components with more than half the season still ahead.

Allison admitted that while Mercedes can still fit a new engine next weekend without immediate penalty, it will create long-term strain. The team now has to consider how best to handle its resources, keeping replacements available while hoping to avoid more reliability problems.

For Antonelli, losing a power unit before it completes its full service life is especially disappointing. Mercedes must monitor the situation closely to avoid future problems, as another failure could leave their drivers at risk of costly grid penalties later in the year.

Meanwhile, other teams powered by Mercedes engines will also be watching for updates, hoping that the root cause can be found and resolved quickly. As the season heads to Canada, Mercedes knows that every engine matters.

Their ability to balance performance and reliability could shape their results in a year expected to be highly competitive. For Antonelli and the Mercedes garage, a solution is needed soon so they can refocus on the battle for points without the worry of more ‘no fun’ technical failures.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.