Former F1 driver and Sky Sports activities pundit Martin Brundle has mentioned Kimi Antonelli should have discovered a invaluable lesson after his P15 end on the British GP. The youngest ever F1 championship chief was honing on Charles Leclerc for the victory earlier than harm to his W17 noticed him ultimately end out of the factors.
The 19-year-old was chasing Leclerc down with a 10-lap tyre offset earlier than harm to his ‘ wheel protect on Lap 41. The Italian was compelled to pit on two events, and whereas a valiant restoration effort noticed him cross the road in P9 – underneath the Security Automobile after Max Verstappen’s Lap 48 crash – a five-second penalty for exceeding observe limits in his faltering W17 dropped him to an eventual P15.
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The consequence, alongside Mercedes teammate ending P2, has seen Antonelli’s lead on the high of the standings whereas Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton isn’t far behind with simply 32 between him and {the teenager}.
Silverstone heartbreak a invaluable lesson for Antonelli, says Brundle
Picture: Race Footage
Picture: Race Footage
Highlighting the very fact Antonelli needed to pit twice to resolve the problem at Silverstone, former McLaren driver Brundle advised the younger Italian was not clear sufficient over the radio to race engineer Peter ‘Bono’ Bonnington – a lesson going ahead within the 2026 title battle.
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Writing in his column for Sky F1, Brundle mentioned: “It was heartbreaking for him, however one other lesson discovered as he didn’t give clear sufficient info on his approach into the pits about his issues.
“The group modified the simple and quick elements with a brand new nostril and entrance wing, and contemporary tyres, and despatched him out, however the offending bodywork was nonetheless blocking his steering and he needed to pit once more two laps later.
“Kimi persevered and, nonetheless in tenth place with a doubtlessly important one level in his pocket, he discovered exceptional tempo once more and carried on. However together with his points he had been off the observe 5 instances and was given a five-second penalty for ‘observe limits’,” Brundle added.
Specializing in Antonelli’s five-second penalty for exceeding observe limits, hardly gaining a bonus throughout these damage-ridden laps, Brundle advised a rethink to the F1 guidelines, that such a penalty shouldn’t be utilized when a driver is “surviving” by way of harm or getting out of the way in which of one other driver.
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“That rule wants adjusting,” Brundle mentioned. “Observe restrict penalties are for when drivers acquire a aggressive benefit by slicing corners or working huge and so capable of carry extra velocity. They shouldn’t be utilized once you’re surviving a mechanical subject or getting out of the way in which.”
Toto Wolff warns Ferrari will problem Mercedes for ‘remainder of the F1 season’
Picture: Race Footage
Picture: Race Footage
In the meantime, Mercedes CEO and group principal has mentioned he expects Ferrari to problem the Silver Arrows “for the remainder of the season,” after Leclerc’s first win of 2026 at Silverstone final week. Mercedes presently lead the Constructors’ standings on 333 factors, with Ferrari P2 on 255.
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Talking to media, together with GPblog, Wolff was requested whether or not he was stunned by Ferrari’s efficiency, significantly given their weaknesses on straight-line velocity and Silverstone’s energy-starved nature.
He mentioned: “Effectively, we have to take a look at ourselves. They mentioned earlier than the weekend that they’ll be missing vitality over this observe. They have not. They have been a robust competitor and that is to be anticipated now for the remainder of the season.”
