Kimi Antonelli’s British GP Qualifying Performance Affected by Penalty
Andrea Kimi Antonelli faced challenges during the qualifying session for the British Grand Prix, ultimately securing P10 on the grid after a three-place penalty carried over from the previous race in Austria. The penalty arose from a first-lap collision with Max Verstappen, where Antonelli was deemed fully at fault.
In qualifying, Antonelli’s lap was nearly half a second off Verstappen’s pole time. He expressed frustration regarding his performance, particularly struggling with high-speed stability on the Silverstone circuit. “It was tough… especially in Sector two and Sector three,” Antonelli stated. “Not super happy because of the penalty tomorrow, but we’ll try to build from there.”
The unpredictable track conditions in Q3, compounded by light rain and wind, further complicated matters. “It was quite unpredictable,” he said, reflecting on the balance of the car.
His teammate George Russell achieved a commendable performance, qualifying on the second row. Team principal Toto Wolff praised him, saying he "definitely outperformed the car here." In contrast, Antonelli acknowledged his struggle with confidence in high-speed corners, affecting his setup adjustments.
Despite the setbacks, Antonelli has shown promise this season, including a podium finish in Canada. Looking ahead to the race, he remains hopeful about scoring points, noting, “I think P7 is going to be realistic.”
With his team just one point behind Ferrari in the constructors’ standings, the upcoming race presents a crucial opportunity for Antonelli and Mercedes to strengthen their position.
