Andrea Kimi Antonelli finished in the points for Mercedes in his second Grand Prix. After an impressive comeback in Melbourne, the young Italian also finished in the top ten in Shanghai, notably with a damaged W16 car, as it turned out afterwards. Thanks in part to Ferrari’s double disqualification, Antonelli now occupies fifth place in the championship.
In the run-up to the new Formula 1 season, there were regular question marks about Mercedes’ choice for Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The 18-year-old Italian had just made his debut in Formula 2. Moreover, there were numerous experienced drivers available. For the time being, however, team boss Toto Wolff’s gamble seems to be paying off. Antonelli has already scored good points for Mercedes twice, even after his car was damaged during the Chinese GP.
“Unfortunately, his race was compromised by damage to the floor,” Wolff responded after the Grand Prix. “He had sustained this in the opening round. However, he remained focused and fought back very hard. Despite the significant performance deficit, he achieved a commendable eighth place.” Due to the disqualifications of Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, the Mercedes debutant eventually moved up to P6. “He didn’t complain during the race, but stayed focused on his job, and that’s exactly what we want to see,” Wolff concluded.
A Good Experience
Antonelli initially had no idea that something was wrong with his W16. “I felt something strange from the first lap,” he explained to Sky Sports. “On Saturday, it was the front left wheel that was most limited on this circuit, but during the main race, it was the rear that underperformed. That was quite unusual, I found it really strange.”
The Shanghai International Circuit is known for putting more strain on the front axle than the rear axle. This is due to the limited acceleration opportunities and relatively slow corners. Limitations on the rear axle make it particularly challenging to set a fast lap time. “It was really hard to keep up, I tried to pay as much attention to the rear as possible,” Antonelli confirmed. “Mentally, it was a good experience.” Antonelli is currently in fifth place in the championship after two Grands Prix, well ahead of both Ferrari drivers.
