Teen spirit's got Merc back in the fast lane - Bottas

ROOKIE sensation Kimi Antonelli has put a sparkle back in Mercedes' eyes.

- BY DANIEL MOXON

So says reserve Valtteri Bottas, who's had a front-row seat for the 18-year-old's impressive start to life on the grid as Lewis Hamilton's successor.

Mercedes endured an awful triple-header of European races in recent weeks but there remains a spring in their step missing in the three years since they were knocked off their perch.

And 35-year-old Bottas credits Antonelli, 18, with helping to change the atmosphere after 12 years of working with Hamilton before he quit for Ferrari.

The Finn said: "We're not happy McLaren are still ahead and they seem to be quite clearly ahead.