Synopsis
Kimi Antonelli faced a tough qualifying session at the Australian GP, where car damage led to his exit in Q1. Despite early promise, the young driver couldn't maximize his W16's potential, finishing 16th. Teammate George Russell fared better, while Antonelli remains hopeful for the race amidst forecasted rain.Key Takeaways
- Kimi Antonelli faced car damage during Q1.
- The damage limited his performance significantly.
- Teammate George Russell secured a better position.
- Forecasted rain may provide opportunities for recovery.
- Liam Lawson also struggled in his Red Bull debut.
Melbourne, March 15 (NationPress) It was a disheartening experience for Mercedes newcomer Kimi Antonelli during his inaugural Australian Grand Prix qualifying session, as unforeseen car damage resulted in his elimination in Q1. Despite showing potential early on, the young Italian faced challenges in maximizing the capabilities of his W16, with the team later indicating that bib damage had hindered his performance during the final runs.
Antonelli and his teammate George Russell commenced the session on medium tires before transitioning to softs for their concluding attempts. However, Antonelli's lap was significantly compromised after he went wide at Turn 6, with replays revealing his car bottoming out and emitting sparks. He ultimately finished in 16th place, failing to advance to Q2, while Russell managed to secure a commendable second-row position.
Mercedes subsequently disclosed that the damage impacted Antonelli’s last two laps, restricting his straight-line speed and diminishing his aerodynamic grip. Following the session, the 17-year-old conveyed his disappointment but remained hopeful about gaining positions in Sunday’s race.
“It was somewhat unfortunate. On the medium tires, it obviously required another lap to come in, but when we switched to softs, I believe after T6 the car sustained considerable damage.
“Well, it’s expected to rain tomorrow, so anything can transpire. We’ll strive to create something positive from that,” Antonelli remarked after the qualifying.
Another driver who faced a challenging qualifying was Liam Lawson, who made his Red Bull debut as a substitute for an unwell Sergio Perez. The New Zealander appeared poised to advance into Q2 before a critical error in the final sector derailed his lap.
“The initial part of the lap was satisfactory,” Lawson acknowledged. “We were on track, and then I just made a blunder in the last sector. I experienced a significant slide through the high-speed area, which overheated the tires. Then, in the final sector, I had no tires left, and I went off.
“Clearly, it was a foolish mistake that could have been avoided. I believe we were in a solid position, building upon the lap we had, so it’s quite frustrating.”
Lawson qualified in 18th position, just ahead of Haas drivers Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman. Similar to Antonelli, he is optimistic that the anticipated heavy rain on race day will present opportunities to gain positions.
“If it rains, it shakes everything up,” Lawson expressed. “I think I require the rain to have a chance at moving forward, so let’s see.”
