The Austrian Grand Prix really gave championship chief Kimi Antonelli extra confidence that he can win the 2026 Formulation 1 world title regardless of it being a “unhealthy weekend”.
Antonelli made a blistering begin to spherical eight by topping two follow classes and being on provisional pole, however was pipped on the finish following Max Verstappen’s crash.
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The Mercedes driver aborted his remaining lap considering double yellow flags had been being waved, but it surely 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 and recuperate, he was overly aggressive throughout the opening two laps and went off 3 times – dropping all the way down to fifth in consequence.
However the 19-year-old finally climbed to 3rd, simply 1.9s behind winner Russell and 0.3s off runner-up Verstappen, in what may very well be thought of a robust outcome on an off weekend.
“That is why it is essential to make the most effective 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
George Russell, Mercedes, Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
“In fact, it was not an important weekend as a result of a whole lot of issues did not go nicely, however on the finish of the day, that is additionally a part of the training – it is all expertise.
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“If the unhealthy weekend has to go that approach, I’d put an important signature on it as a result of we had been nonetheless in P3, we had been nonetheless a robust second half of the race.
“It simply gave me that further confidence that even when issues do not look good in direction of my approach, along with the group, we will nonetheless pull an important outcome and an important 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 check 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 Crimson Bull Ring or not.
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His Mercedes boss Toto Wolff expressed confidence that it will by no means occur once more, identical to he isn’t making the useless errors that he made at numerous factors throughout the 2025 marketing campaign.
“In Austria, we had the most effective tempo general,” added Antonelli. “Additionally as a result of, second and third group had been actually robust. The way in which we got here again after that was good, but it surely was simply not sufficient.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
“Clearly, I arrived a bit too late to the occasion. The primary two laps, shedding observe place to Max, that was not excellent.
“Additionally, I struggled rather a lot with the brakes all through the primary stint that was capable of drive round it for the remainder of the race, however I used to be actually struggling to assault braking.
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“With that, I misplaced fairly a little bit of time. For positive, the 2 laps and shedding place to Max actually modified the course of the race. If I’d have saved place, most likely it could have been one other story, but it surely did not occur.
“I have to ensure that if the identical state of affairs 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 positive I didn’t count on such a robust begin,” concluded Antonelli, “however clearly I am not complaining in any respect. Simply going to attempt to preserve it rolling, preserve elevating the bar.
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“In fact, there is a bit of upper stress, however I believe it is an important 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.”
Learn Additionally:
Silverstone redemption: How Kimi Antonelli bounces again and manages F1 stress
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