Ferrari Components 1 driver Charles Leclerc says he was “a bit harsh” along with his heated criticism of Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli throughout Miami’s dash race, however does hope the Italian “calms down a little bit bit” as he races wheel to wheel.
Leclerc and Antonelli battled within the opening phases of Saturday’s 19-lap dash races, with Antonelli’s poor getaway dropping him from second to fourth behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Leclerc, making an attempt to reclaim third in a protracted battle with the Monegasque driver.
Leclerc wasn’t notably impressed with Antonelli’s driving, nonetheless, as he fended off the Italian teenager to safe third behind winner Lando Norris and Piastri.
“Kimi is so dangerous on wheel to wheel,” Leclerc mentioned on the time. “He moved beneath braking, it is unbelievable. We’ll crash.”
Leclerc and Antonelli got here to blows twice over the course of Antonelli’s 2025 rookie season, with the Mercedes teenager taking Leclerc out on the Dutch Grand Prix, and likewise taking part in a component in a three-car collision with Leclerc and Piastri in Brazil.
“I used to be being a bit harsh perhaps, with the adrenaline contained in the automotive,” Leclerc mentioned. “It is true that we have had our moments with Kimi prior to now and I hope this calms down a little bit bit going forward. Particularly [because] he is the one Italian driver on the grid towards Ferrari, I want it was with another person. And I actually like Kimi additionally as an individual.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Photograph by: Mark Thompson – Getty Pictures
“It is simply generally a little bit bit too shut for consolation and not likely wanted as nicely. On this explicit case I used to be fairly indignant within the automotive however the feedback have been most likely a bit too harsh.”
Antonelli completed fourth however was finally handed a post-race five-second penalty for repeated observe limits offences, dropping him to sixth. Chatting with Sky, Antonelli admitted he was pissed off by his botched begin, which was past his management, and made too many errors.
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“We have been doing work over the break [on race starts] and on my facet for as soon as I did all the things proper with the procedures, so we have to examine what occurred,” Antonelli reported. “The grip was very low, most likely decrease than we anticipated.
“After that I used to be actually pissed off, I did not even drive nicely, I made quite a lot of errors. I bought observe limits which is one thing that I must keep away from.”
Pictures from Miami GP – Saturday
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
Miami GP – Saturday, in pictures
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