Antonelli 'Lucky' to Secure P2 After São Paulo Turn 1 Chaos

Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli secured his best Formula 1 result in São Paulo, finishing P2 despite being involved in a dramatic Turn 1 collision with Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc. Starting from the front row, the 19-year-old navigated early chaos and fended off a late charge from Max Verstappen, highlighting his growing momentum.

Why it matters:

Kimi Antonelli's P2 finish in São Paulo, amidst significant early-race drama and intense pressure from Max Verstappen, underscores his rapid development and growing confidence in Formula 1. This result marks his best F1 finish to date and signals Mercedes' improving performance, especially as the team looks to solidify its future with young talent.

The Details:

• Turn 1 Incident: During a Lap 6 restart, Antonelli's Mercedes was caught in a three-wide battle with Piastri on the inside and Leclerc on the outside at Turn 1.
  • Piastri locked up, hitting Antonelli, who then made contact with Leclerc. Leclerc's Ferrari was forced to retire due to front suspension damage, while Piastri received a 10-second penalty.
  • Antonelli described it as a "bad restart," admitting he was "a bit too aggressive on the power," leading to wheel spin and lost momentum.
  • Despite the chaos, Antonelli considered himself "very lucky to keep going," though he noted the car "felt a bit weird afterwards."
• Verstappen Battle: In the closing laps, Antonelli faced immense pressure from Max Verstappen, who was rapidly gaining on fresher tires.
  • Antonelli managed to hold off Verstappen by a mere 0.362 seconds, securing his second podium of the season, improving on his P3 in Canada.
  • He utilized the "dirty air" effect to his advantage, making it difficult for Verstappen to follow closely.
• Season's Best Weekend: Antonelli described the São Paulo weekend as his "most complete" of the season, attributing it to finally "putting things together."
  • This performance highlights the positive impact of Mercedes' recent updates and Antonelli's increasing comfort and skill in the car.

What's next:

Antonelli's São Paulo performance reinforces his potential as a future star for Mercedes. His ability to recover from a major incident, manage intense pressure from a world champion, and deliver a career-best result suggests a significant stride in his development. As Mercedes continues to refine its package and Antonelli gains more experience, he is increasingly proving himself as a key asset for the team's long-term aspirations in Formula 1.