Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli reflects on a positive qualifying and delves into a difficult Sunday at the F1 Bahrain GP.
Following a difficult evening in Sakhir, Mercedes’ Antonelli reflects on his ups and downs in Bahrain. Following a strong P4 in Qualifying on Saturday, Antonelli was struck with a penalty leaving him to start from P5.
In spite of a strong starting position, Sunday’s Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix did not play out as planned, with Antonelli eventually coming home in P11.
Reflecting on the Grand Prix, Antonelli cited a difficult start as a key factor in his finishing position. The former PREMA driver lost spots to Norris, Gasly and Sainz on the opening lap.
He also noted a difficult stint on medium tyres which cost him race pace.
“Lap one was a bit borderline because I was pushed off in turn 6 [by Gasly],” Antonelli recalled when asked about his performance in the F1 Bahrain GP. “And then, obviously, I lost three places. But then I was fighting back. I was back to P5. And then in the first pit stop, I would have got undercut. Because, obviously, I’d be in one lap later.
“Obviously, I was able to progress again. But on the medium, honestly, I was struggling because I pushed a bit too hard on the out lap and I cooked the tyre. Then I found myself a bit struggling. But I still had a decent track position.“
He went on to explain that a late strategy call also impacted his finishing position. With the team electing to pit under Safety Car conditions as he had pitted a few laps before it appeared, Antonelli struggled to progress in the final stint. He suggests the team must analyse the decision in order to improve.
“Then I put the soft on again,” he explained. “After two laps, obviously, the safety car came out because there was debris. We need to review why we made the call to go back here. Because, you know, many other people stayed out. Verstappen stayed out. Ocon stayed out. They were behind.
“So we need to review why. But at the same time, I know it’s never easy. It’s always easy to talk after. So we need to review that. Why it happened. In order to improve it even more for Jeddah.”
On the clash with Sainz after that Safety Car, he explained how fortunate he was to continue as the Spaniard slid into him.
“Yeah, I don’t know. I saw it in the last moment.
“Luckily, I opened the steering wheel because we would have crashed, for sure. But yeah, I don’t know if he just missed the corner or if he just launched in.
“I just, yeah, found at the last moment that I had to open the steering wheel. Otherwise, we would have collided.”
When asked for his thoughts on the weekend as a whole at the F1 Bahrain GP, Antonelli was more positive. He highlighted his impressive qualifying performance as a key take away as well as his confidence overall in the car. With just four F1 Grands Prix completed, Antonelli admits he still has learning to do.
“Definitely qualifying was a good step forward in terms of pace. Also, I felt much more comfortable racing with others. Much better making overtakes, moves. I felt quite comfortable with it.
“So definitely, there are positives to take away. Of course, it was not what I was hoping for because I was aiming for a lot higher. But now it’s a few days of rest and then Jeddah.
“Obviously, I think it will take still a few races just to understand everything, you know, especially on different tarmac. On tarmac like this [in Bahrain] that is super open and the deg is big. So, still a lot to learn and definitely, I still am not even halfway.”
Antonelli was also asked if his experience in the sim has helped him to adapt to Formula 1 in his first season. The young Italian agreed that sim time gives valuable insight, particularly at tracks which he hasn’t experienced.
He also acknowledged his F2 experience in Jeddah as a benefit looking ahead to next weekend.
“The sim helps a lot,” He agreed. “Because, especially when it comes to a new track, the sim is useful just to have an understanding of how is the track and everything. I think, definitely simulator helps. But still, real life is different.
“I did [Jeddah], of course, in F2. It’s going to be the first city track with the F1, so it’s going to feel quite quick, definitely, because the pace difference between the two cars is quite big. So, first few laps it’s going to feel fast, but I think, you know, we can do good.”
