Kimi Antonelli confused by F1 Las Vegas GP jump-start penalty

Andrea Kimi Antonelli has defined he “didn’t actually really feel” the ahead motion that constituted his soar begin at Method 1’s Las Vegas Grand Prix.

After qualifying down in seventeenth on a poor Friday, Antonelli received a penalty for that soar begin. 5 seconds have been added to his race time as his solely pitstop occurred on lap two, earlier than the stewards have been in a position to adjudicate.

Requested what occurred in the beginning given it regarded marginal on the printed, the rookie commented: “It was very tough, I believe. My suggestion is that I rolled just a little bit, however I did not actually really feel it within the automobile, so I simply must evaluate the onboard and perceive what was the problem.”

The penalty initially dropped Antonelli from fourth to fifth, behind Oscar Piastri, and meant he was simply 0.190s forward of Charles Leclerc within the last classification. However the McLarens’ disqualification promoted him to the ultimate podium spot – although he didn’t get to face on it.

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The Mercedes racer’s drive earned plaudits as he accomplished a mammoth 50-lap stint on arduous tyres, in a 52-lap race; he was 14th when he pitted beneath the digital security automobile on lap 2, however the mitigated time loss and his glorious subsequent tempo meant he undercut everybody however the high three. Antonelli then efficiently held off Oscar Piastri and Leclerc earlier than his penalty was utilized.

Requested by Motorsport if he was stunned that the hards held on that effectively, the Italian teenager admitted: “I used to be speaking to the tyres the final 20 laps, each lap on the straight. I used to be simply asking them to please maintain on till the top.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Photograph by: Stephanie Tacy / NurPhoto by way of Getty Photos

“I used to be a bit involved with the graining midway by the race, however ultimately, as soon as I used to be in free air, particularly the final 10 laps – additionally because of some recommendation that I received from the staff on driving – the graining began to wash up just a little bit and we have been in a position to simply maintain on.

“Truly, the time saved getting sooner and sooner, so I am actually proud of that. It was only a disgrace we began to date again, however that is a part of the training.”

Antonelli additionally keenly denied a suggestion that he could have been backing up Piastri and Leclerc to stop them from catching Mercedes team-mate George Russell.

“No, no, no,” he replied. “To be truthful, I used to be making an attempt to do my race, and if I’ve to be actually trustworthy, I used to be making an attempt to catch him as effectively. I used to be doing my race, I used to be simply making an attempt to maximise the end result, as a result of it was vital to get good factors for the staff.

“Clearly, I do not know whether or not it helped George, the truth that I saved these two behind, however I used to be simply fascinated by myself. I’m proud of the end result, and I simply must maintain going like this.”

Antonelli has now scored 71 factors within the final six rounds, in comparison with 66 within the first 16. The rookie not is a lonely seventh within the championship, as he has introduced his deficit to sixth-placed Lewis Hamilton down from 49 to fifteen factors in two grands prix.

Photographs from Las Vegas GP – Race

Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing