Mercedes’ daring tyre strategy in Bahrain left Antonelli frustrated, questioning decisions that ultimately cost him a shot at valuable points.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli missed out on scoring points for the first time this season at the Bahrain Grand Prix, and he’s still trying to make sense of Mercedes’ strategy. The young Italian was called in for two pit stops within just three laps—both for soft tyres—right around the time of the safety car, and the reasoning behind it remains unclear to him.
“It was a bit confusing,” Antonelli admitted. “I expected the first undercut and that was fine. But then I switched to softs two laps before the safety car came out. Looking back, maybe I should’ve stayed out longer. Still, with the safety car, things could’ve gone differently.”
Antonelli said he wants to review the decision with the team but also sees room for personal improvement:
“I need to talk it through with the engineers. On my end, maybe I could have managed the tyres differently to give us more options later.”
Despite the missed opportunity, the 17-year-old remains focused on the positives:
“The pace is getting better, even in qualifying. I’m learning a lot about racing, fighting in traffic, and overtaking. That’s encouraging—and we’ll aim for a stronger quali in Jeddah.”
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Strategy blunder costs Antonelli precious Bahrain points Strategy blunder costs Antonelli precious Bahrain points
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