Jacques Villeneuve has heard Mercedes insider ‘was not super happy’ with what Kimi Antonelli has done at Imola

Kimi Antonelli is competing in his first home Grand Prix in Formula 1 this weekend as the 2025 season heads to Imola.

The Italian has been hugely impressive since making the step up from F2 to Lewis Hamilton’s seat at Mercedes. The 18-year-old is sixth in the standings with 48 points after the first six races.

With an amazing support network around him at Mercedes, the rookie has stunned everyone in the paddock. Flavio Briatore has labelled Antonelli a ‘lion’ as he chooses him as the best newcomer on the grid.

Fresh off securing his maiden F1 pole for the Sprint race in Miami, the teenager will be keen to carry the momentum into his home event at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

Teammate George Russell sent a ‘special’ message to Antonelli ahead of the weekend, telling him to enjoy the occasion. The Italian has taken part in an F1 weekend in his home nation before, crashing during FP1 at Monza last season.

Imola could present a hostile atmosphere for the 18-year-old, too, as Antonelli could get ‘booed’ over the weekend if he beats the Ferraris. He will have to be focused to extract a top result, but Jacques Villeneuve thinks he may have jeopardised himself.

Jacques Villeneuve has heard Gwen Lagrue ‘was not super happy’ that Kimi Antonelli brought his school friends to Imola

With Imola not far from his hometown, Bologna, Antonelli has brought his school friends to the paddock this weekend. The support from them could go a long way for the Italian, but it could also cause him to lose focus.

1997 champion Villeneuve thinks Antonelli ‘shouldn’t do that’ and should keep his work separate from his personal life. It appears some at Mercedes hold the same opinion, as the Canadian has heard that driver development advisor Gwen Lagrue ‘was not super happy’ with his driver’s actions.

“It’s cute, he brought his friends, but it’s his office. You shouldn’t do that,” said Villeneuve on Sky Sports F1 after FP3.

“I’ve heard some interviews with Gwen Lagrue, who’s been working with him at Mercedes and he was not super happy about this subject because it took away from his focus on the racing.

“It’s the same thing when you have your whole family around, you’re friends. No, this is your office. You don’t want any side… you know, you don’t want to have dinners.

“You need to focus on your racing and it had an effect on him yesterday. Seems better today, but it did have an effect.

“Just remind yourself, it’s your office. You don’t bring friends or family to your office.”

READ MORE: Know all about 2025 Mercedes F1 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli including stats

Have Kimi Antonelli’s school friends had that much of an effect on the Mercedes driver at Imola?

Looking at Antonelli’s lap times during Friday’s practice sessions, it fuels the argument that the Italian lost focus due to his friends. He was half a second down on Russell in FP1 and was even further back in FP2, finishing 18th and over a second off pacesetter Oscar Piastri.

As McLaren topped the times again in FP3, Antonelli displayed stronger pace, finishing the session in P4 ahead of Russell – albeit he was still half a second off the benchmark set by Lando Norris.

Mercedes are lacking the pace of McLaren to win races, but the potential is there to score regular podiums. Antonelli is yet to score one in F1, and he has some work to do before he does.

James Hinchcliffe says Antonelli cannot maintain a strong pace at the front, after watching him drop back from pole in the Sprint in Miami. While he has the potential to challenge the frontrunners, he has to find another level to beat the McLarens, Max Verstappen and his teammate.