Antonelli 'Frustrated' by Shock Q1 Exit in Wet Las Vegas Qualifying
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli voiced significant frustration after an unexpected Q1 exit at the wet Las Vegas Grand Prix qualifying. He attributed his 17th-place finish to a critical braking error on his final lap, despite believing he had the pace for a top-five position. Antonelli, who recently scored a career-best second in Brazil, is now focused on recovering positions and scoring points in the main race, aiming for a strong start.
Kimi Antonelli expressed his surprise and frustration after a Q1 exit in the rain-soaked Las Vegas Grand Prix qualifying. The Mercedes driver, who qualified 17th, cited a crucial braking error in the challenging conditions, despite believing his final lap was on track for a top-five position.
Why it matters:
This marks Antonelli's third Q1 exit this season, a setback for a driver who recently achieved a career-best second-place finish in Brazil. His performance in qualifying, especially in unpredictable conditions, is a critical test of his adaptability and pressure management as he aims to prove his capabilities within F1's top tier.
The details:
- Challenging Conditions: Drivers faced an extremely wet and slippery track in Las Vegas, leading to numerous minor errors across the field.
- Crucial Error: On his final Q1 lap, Antonelli entered the Turn 14 braking zone cautiously, specifically to avoid mistakes. However, he still locked up, ran wide, and lost the lap, preventing him from improving his time.
- Missed Opportunity: Antonelli stated, "The last lap was going to be good enough for top five." He added, "Two laps before I was in P5, to end up in P17 is very frustrating."
- Previous Success: This qualifying disappointment contrasts sharply with his impressive second-place finish in Brazil just two weeks prior, highlighting the variability of F1 weekends.
What's next:
Despite the poor qualifying position, Antonelli remains optimistic about the race, believing he has the pace to move through the field and score points.
- He emphasized, "For sure, points. We've got the pace."
- Antonelli hopes for a strong start to the race, stating, "Hopefully, tomorrow we can do a good start and gain places."
- The Italian will need to navigate the potentially chaotic midfield in what could be another unpredictable race in Las Vegas to make good on his ambition for points.