Andrea Kimi Antonelli impressed in China, overcoming car damage, but remains focused on improving his pace, especially in qualifying for Japan.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s impressive eighth-place finish in China, which turned into a sixth-place result after the disqualifications of the Ferraris ahead of him, came despite significant damage to his car.
The Mercedes F1 driver revealed that he had noticed something unusual with his car but didn’t realize it had sustained damage during the race.
“I felt like something was off. The team told me after the race that I had damage to the floor from the first lap,” Antonelli explained. “They didn’t want to tell me during the race to avoid making me panic, I suppose.”
“Looking back now, I realize where I might have caused the damage. When Leclerc lost his front wing, I hit it with my floor. I remember going over it, but at the time, I didn’t think there was any damage.”
“I felt something wasn’t right from the first lap. Obviously, I was struggling. I had real trouble with traction. The combined grip was a real challenge. I couldn’t really put down the power.”
“I had to wait for a certain moment because the car kept slipping away from me. But that might explain the damage. On Saturday, the issue was mainly at the front left, and during the race, I really struggled with the rear throughout, which was quite unusual.”
“I found it really strange. It was tough to follow, especially because I was trying to save the rear tires as much as possible. It was a difficult race overall. But now, it’s time to reset and come back stronger in Japan.”
His boss, Toto Wolff, was impressed with his performance: “Considering he had a severely damaged car, finishing eighth, keeping it together, and not complaining but simply doing his job shows the potential and maturity of this young man.”
Antonelli Focuses on Improving Qualifying Performance
Antonelli is pleased to see his progress, but he’s determined to improve further: “I want to look at the data and see where I could have done better. To be honest, the car’s pace is there, and I need to improve and try to piece everything together to get a better result.”
“I think without the damage, the race could have been different. I know the pace is there because George did a great job. He was in the mix, so now it’s time to analyze and come back stronger in Japan.”
Now, the Italian is focusing on improving his qualifying performance, which he sees as his biggest weakness: “I think every weekend is a big learning experience.”
“Of course, next weekend in Japan will be a new challenge since it’s a new circuit for me. But overall, I’m happy with my progress. I know the pace is there; it’s just about putting it all together, especially in qualifying.”
“Learning to put the tires in the right window for the start of the lap to have a clean run and be able to put everything together. Because if I can do that, I’ll be starting from a better position, and then the race will be a different story.”
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Floor Damage Explained: Antonelli’s Challenge in China
Floor Damage Explained: Antonelli’s Challenge in China
