Kimi Antonelli delivered a standout performance at the recent race, showcasing a level of comfort and skill that overshadowed teammate George Russell’s struggles. Despite facing a battery deployment issue on the first lap—which allowed Max Verstappen to pass him briefly before Antonelli fought back—the young driver maintained composure and never appeared at risk of losing the race. Even when a Virtual Safety Car (VSC) allowed Charles Leclerc to snatch the lead, Antonelli methodically reeled in the Ferrari and reclaimed the top spot with relative ease. Reflecting on the chaotic start, Antonelli admitted confusion, noting Verstappen’s unexpected pass and Leclerc’s sudden proximity, but emphasized his focus on holding position and surviving the opening laps cleanly.
These energy-related complications, Antonelli explained, are becoming a recurring challenge for many teams due to this year’s complex engine systems, which split power nearly evenly between internal combustion and electrical sources. He noted that issues like these can arise unpredictably, sometimes stemming from driver inputs on energy-demanding tracks, but that for Russell, a specific issue was identified that is expected to be resolved by the Budapest race. The VSC timing also played a key role; Antonelli had already pitted when the second caution period allowed Ferrari to stop Leclerc and leapfrog him, yet the Mercedes driver still managed to overtake decisively on track.
Despite the victory, Antonelli’s overall pace was not as dominant as some anticipated, offering a glimmer of hope for tighter competition moving forward. Lando Norris, whose McLaren team is set to introduce a major upgrade package in Hungary, acknowledged being „a little bit surprised” that Mercedes wasn’t significantly stronger. While noting that the win still marked a strong weekend, Norris expressed optimism about McLaren’s ability to close the gap, suggesting that the performance difference was narrower than expected. With upgrades on the horizon, the stage is set for more intense battles as the season progresses.
Ez a cikk a Neural News AI (V1) verziójával készült.
Forrás: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/articles/clyvg82xlpdo.