When Formulation 1 revealed that Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli had received its driver of the day ballot, having crossed the ending line in eighth place, this information generated the typically sneering response. When group boss Toto Wolff congratulated his driver over the group radio, the eye-rolling was nearly palpable.
And but, whereas the outcomes of the social media ballot are sometimes fatuous, on this case there have been causes to be impressed with Antonelli’s efficiency: ground harm had precipitated an enormous shift in his W16’s efficiency traits. The possible offender is particles from Charles Leclerc’s contact with Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton on the opening lap.
Though the results of the harm confirmed up in information, Mercedes selected to not apprise Antonelli of the rationale for his automotive misbehaving till later within the race.
“He had in depth ground harm,” mentioned Wolff in his post-race press convention. “We don’t know precisely why, whether or not he ran over Charles’s endplate, however there was a large gap within the ground, the titanium streaks [skid plates] have been gone.
“Contemplating he had a automotive which was severely impaired – holding on to it, ending eighth, not complaining, simply getting on with the job, exhibits the maturity and the potential he has.”
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photos
Though Leclerc’s influence with Hamilton’s sidepod resulted in an instantaneous bathe of particles, the principle a part of the endplate didn’t detach till afterward the opening lap. Antonelli was operating behind Leclerc on monitor by the opening sequence of corners as he fought Isack Hadjar for seventh place, making that transfer stick on the skin on the exit of Flip 3 – the place Verstappen was on an inside line, attempting to cross Leclerc on the left.
Antonelli was undercut by Yuki Tsunoda on the first spherical of pitstops, then had the indignity of being overtaken by Esteban Ocon with two wheels on the grass. Although he slipped again relative to Ocon by his remaining stint, Antonelli obtained a place again when Tsunoda needed to pit for a brand new entrance wing.
“I might really feel one thing was bizarre from lap one,” Antonelli instructed Sky Sports activities F1 after the race. “Yesterday the limitation was the entrance left, as we speak the limitation was the rear for the entire race – which was fairly uncommon, I discovered it actually bizarre.”
The Shanghai circuit is one thing of an outlier on the F1 calendar as a result of the entrance axle is confused greater than the rear: there are fewer areas requiring laborious acceleration, and many of the corners are gradual to medium-speed. Crucially, the tightening radius of the opening sequence of right-hand corners combines with the quick right-hander onto the again straight to punish the front-left tyre.
Having a rear limitation on a automotive right here makes it susceptible on the exit of that opening sequence of turns, and below traction onto the again straight – which is extremely damaging to general lap time.
“It was actually laborious to maintain up, I used to be attempting to take care of the rears as a lot as doable,” mentioned Antonelli. “Mentally it was an excellent expertise, an excellent lesson, as a result of it was robust.”
Antonelli then gained one other two positions after the race when each Ferraris have been disqualified – Leclerc as a result of his automotive was discovered to be underweight, Lewis Hamilton due to unlawful plank put on.
Learn Additionally:
On this article
Stuart Codling
Formulation 1
Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Mercedes
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