The Austrian Grand Prix truly gave championship chief Kimi Antonelli extra confidence that he can win the 2026 Method 1 world title regardless of it being a “unhealthy weekend”.
Antonelli made a blistering begin to spherical eight by topping two observe periods and being on provisional pole, however was pipped on the finish following Max Verstappen’s crash.
The Mercedes driver aborted his ultimate lap pondering double yellow flags had been being waved, nevertheless it was solely single flags, which team-mate George Russell recognised to take pole.
Antonelli due to this fact dropped to fourth and in an try to get well, he was overly aggressive throughout the opening two laps and went off thrice – dropping all the way down to fifth consequently.
However the 19-year-old finally climbed to 3rd, simply 1.9s behind winner Russell and 0.3s off runner-up Verstappen, in what might be thought-about a powerful outcome on an off weekend.
“That is why it is necessary to make one of the best out of each alternative and attempt to maximise each outcome,” Antonelli mentioned forward of this weekend’s British Grand Prix.
George Russell, Mercedes, Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Photograph by: Eric Le Galliot
“After all, it was not an ideal weekend as a result of loads of issues did not go properly, however on the finish of the day, that is additionally a part of the training – it is all expertise.
“If the unhealthy weekend has to go that method, I might put an ideal signature on it as a result of we had been nonetheless in P3, we had been nonetheless a powerful second half of the race.
“It simply gave me that additional confidence that even when issues do not look good in the direction of my method, along with the crew, we are able to nonetheless pull an ideal outcome and an ideal efficiency.
“It is lots about now, because the efficiency is there, the tempo is there, it is about simply ensuring that each weekend I put issues collectively and I maximise each session.”
What’s going to now function a litmus take a look at for the way a lot Antonelli has improved from his rookie marketing campaign is whether or not he’ll be taught from his errors on the Purple Bull Ring or not.
His Mercedes boss Toto Wolff expressed confidence that it’ll by no means occur once more, similar to he’s not making the pointless errors that he made at numerous factors in the course of the 2025 marketing campaign.
“In Austria, we had one of the best tempo total,” added Antonelli. “Additionally as a result of, second and third crew had been actually sturdy. The best way we got here again after that was good, nevertheless it was simply not sufficient.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
“Clearly, I arrived a bit too late to the social gathering. The primary two laps, dropping monitor place to Max, that was not ideally suited.
“Additionally, I struggled rather a lot with the brakes all through the primary stint that was in a position to drive round it for the remainder of the race, however I used to be actually struggling to assault braking.
“With that, I misplaced fairly a little bit of time. For certain, the 2 laps and dropping place to Max actually modified the course of the race. If I might have saved place, most likely it will have been one other story, nevertheless it did not occur.
“I have to be sure that if the identical scenario occurs, I simply attempt to keep a bit extra calm and attempt to construct from there and simply attempt to use the tempo, however correctly.”
Antonelli has due to this fact arrived at Silverstone with a 40-point lead over second-placed Russell, nonetheless marking an amazing turnaround from his 169-point deficit to the Briton in 2025.
“For certain I didn’t count on such a powerful begin,” concluded Antonelli, “however clearly I am not complaining in any respect. Simply going to attempt to maintain it rolling, maintain elevating the bar.
“After all, there is a bit of upper stress, however I believe it is an ideal alternative to shine when stress comes. However after all, I am simply going to attempt to focus race-by-race.
“Do not attempt to drive worrying about championship or anything. Simply attempt to do my greatest, after which we’ll see the place we find yourself on the finish of the yr.”
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