Home Comforts, But an Unfamiliar Result:

Emilia-Romagna GP Recap

Tricky Start to Life in Europe 

For all the off-track fanfare, we’ll start with the racing. P7 and a DNF was the team’s worst return of the season so far, and the weekend overall was the most difficult of what has been a largely positive and encouraging 2025 to date.

Kimi’s first F1 retirement, coupled with failing to make Q3 for the first time since Melbourne, at his home Grand Prix, was certainly disappointing, but the weekend will remain memorable for the 18-year-old for a multitude of reasons.

But even before the throttle issue that end the Italian’s race prematurely on lap 44, this was a race that was getting away from us.

Somewhere between Saturday afternoon and Sunday, W16 appeared to lose some ground on its competitors. It’s not an uncommon problem, and it is one we will be doing everything to get to the bottom of in the races to come.

After seven races in 2024, the team had amassed 79 points. Our tally at the same stage this season is 147.

A Bump in the Road for Mr Consistent 

P7 for George was his worst return from a Grand Prix since Italy last season.

It ended a run of 11 consecutive top-five Grand Prix finishes, stretching back to Mexico City last year and was the first time he had finished outside the top five in any competitive session (Qualifying/Sprint Qualifying/Sprint Race/Grand Prix) this season.

Before Sunday, came Saturday. Another stellar lap in W16 left George just a tenth of a second off the front row and extended his grid-leading streak of consecutive Q3 appearances to 18.

Full Circle 

A home Grand Prix is special for any driver, and it doesn’t get much closer to home than the Emilia-Romagna GP does for Kimi.

Born just outside nearby Bologna, the Imola air has never been far away from the Antonelli household.

Who better to chauffeur Kimi around the drivers’ parade lap on Sunday afternoon then, than his dad, Marco? An incredible family moment, (played out in their own backyard.

Indeed, the Antonellis had already left their mark on the team by providing dinner to all the trackside members on Friday night. A traditional Italian dish, prepared with local expertise. The perfect fuel for the weekend ahead.

Imagine your school having a school trip out to an F1 Grand Prix? Pretty cool, right? Now imagine one of your class-mates is racing at said Grand Prix, and he’s invited you all into the paddock.

That’s exactly what Kimi’s class got to experience on Thursday in Imola, taking time out from studying for the approaching exam season – which Kimi is also preparing for – to get a glimpse of what life is like for their peer away from the classrooms.

From the paddock to the pit lane, and the racetrack itself, the group got the complete glimpse of life in F1 and even had time for a quick game of rondo in the paddock at the end of the day.

As study breaks go, that probably wasn’t a bad one.

It would be the first of many unforgettable moments for Kimi across the weekend, which included a maiden home fan forum in front of a raucous crowd, and a special helmet design for three days on track.

There was even an opportunity to mix it with motorsport royalty, as Moto GP legend and fellow countryman Valentino Rossi paid a visit to the team.

Catching Up with the Boss

Toto didn’t attend the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, as he was in Los Angeles watching son Benedict graduate from University, but he made sure to make sure everything was in order before the weekend.

The Boss dialled in via WhatsApp video call on Thursday, to check-in with George, Kimi and the team and wish our Italian rookie all the best for the busy but momentous weekend ahead.

A Strong Weekend for Strømsted 

There was podium success in the lower Formulae for the team at Imola, as junior Noah Strømsted put in an excellent recovery drive to finish P2 in the F3 Feature Race on Sunday morning. 

The Dane dropped from P3 on the grid to P5 at the start of the race but responded brilliantly to cross the line just 0.2 seconds off the winner after 22 laps. 

This was Noah’s second P2 of the season after the first round in Australia, and no other driver on the grid scored more points across the Imola weekend. 

He now heads to Monaco second in the standings with 52 points. 

Kimi in Turin

Before the weekend began, there was a first visit to PETRONAS Lubricants International (PLI) in Turin for Kimi, who spent a day at the facility where our all-important fuel and lubricants are developed for our race cars.

The 18-year-old got up close and personal with the cutting-edge technologies and technical capabilities that fuel the team’s success on the track, as we celebrate an incredible partnership that now spans 15 years in Formula 1.

"We know how important the fluids and lubricants are, however seeing the level of detail, innovation and teamwork behind it all gives you a whole new perspective," said Kimi.

"It’s clear how much passion and expertise goes into supporting us on track. As a driver, that gives me a lot of confidence."