Kimi Antonelli explains cause of DNF at Imola - and why he was “wasting energy”
Source of Mer꧋cedes driver's DNF pinpointed after Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix
Mercedes driver 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Andrea Kimi Antonelli saw his first home F1 grand prix grind t🔥o a pre🦩mature end.
Antonelli failed to finish the F1 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix on Sun꧅day, when his car came to a halt on Lap 46 out of 63, while running in 10th.
A throttle issue was the cause of his DNF, Antonelli confirm📖ed.
But the F1 rookie was still able to look back with pride at a scrap with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, whose 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Mercedes seat he inherited.
“Defin🍸itely. We were in a DRS train,” Antonell🌳i said.
“We lacked top speed. I always🐻 a bit weak going𒅌 down the straights.
“It was a good stint trying to keep him behind.
“On the medium, as so⛦on as I put the tyres on, after a couple of laps I started to have a throttle🎉 issue.
“I was on the straight,♒ losing power. Th♍e sensor was going crazy.
“I don’t know, witho🎉ut the pro𒅌blem, if the pace would have been better.
“I need to work on my driving and see wher♚e I can improve.
“I need to improve race pace espe🐬cially in hot temperature. “When it’s cold, the pace is good, it’s much better. And, for me, it’s easier to manage the tyre.
“I need to work on it, when it’s hot.”
Kimi Antonelli: "I didn't take enough time for myself"
Teenager Antonelli is from Bologna, up the road from the Emilia-Romagna Gran🌱d Prix.
He started thꦦe Imola weeke🥂nd surrounded by his schoolmates, having invited them to their local F1 grand prix.
At just 18, it was a reminder that Antonelli is balancing raciℱng with his exams.
However, bringing along his friends was queไstioned by Jacques Vil❀leneuve.
Antonelli, after his first F1 experience on home soil, has now admitt🅘ed that his focus was swayed from the enormity of the event.
“Definitely this weekend was good learning,” the Mercedes talent said.
“On my side, I didn’t manage everything well.
“I didn’t take enough time for myself on most occasions. Tha💛t hurt me for this weekend.
“I was wasting energy. It affected the peꦜrformance in the car.
“On that side, it was a rea💧lly good lesson. Especially ahead of Moꦍnza.”
The F1 Italian Grand Prix at Monza comes later in the year, a secon﷽d attempt for Antonelli to impress his countrymen.
Last year at Monza, Antonelli cra🍷shed in a high-profile FP1 run-out for Mercedes as part of their young driver programme.
He will be aiming for significantly better luck in 2025, after his career has skyrocketed into a 🎐F1 ra🎉ce seat.
Italy is the only nation, apart from the United 🦄States, with꧟ two grands prix this year.
However, Imola and Las Vegas are th🙈e races whose contracts with Formula 1 expire this year.
Vegas, a new showpiece for the whole sport, is assured of its continuation b⭕ut there are fears for Imola.
With Madrid confirmed for an F1 debut in 2026, and the presence in the USA greater than ever, it is possible than I🌌mola 𓆉will fall away from the calendar next year.
James was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a decade covering everything from American sports, to football, ಞto F1.
