Kimi Antonelli eliminated from Q1 in Australia: damage to the flat floor cost too much time

Everything was going well for Kimi Antonelli before this first qualifying session in Melbourne. During the last practice session, the young Italian had performed well, with a time less than three-tenths off the leader George Russell. But right from the first minutes of Q1, things took an unfortunate turn. « It’s just that there was a large patch of gravel on the curb, and when I went through, I took on some damage », explained Antonelli to the media after his early exit.

The damage to the floor had a direct impact on the car’s performance, affecting both top speed and aerodynamics. Result: a 0.09-second delay compared to Q2 and elimination in Q1. « I was losing a lot on the straights, first because the floor was scraping the track, then I lost a lot of aerodynamic load because, obviously, the floor wasn’t aligned », he adds. A hard blow for the 18-year-old driver, who could have aimed higher.

Invisible damage

For Formula 1 drivers, the curbs of the corners are sensitive areas, often at the limit of mechanical tolerance. In Australia, turn 6 was where Antonelli suffered significant damage, initially invisible. Andrew Shovlin, the trackside engineering director for Mercedes, commented: « Kimi had the misfortune of hitting the exit curb at turn 6. This caused damage to the floor that significantly affected his performance, both on straights and in corners ».

These curbs, often harmless for the majority of drivers, have highlighted a weakness in the car’s alignment, significantly reducing the stability and speed of Kimi Antonelli’s W16.

Despite the disappointment of elimination in Q1, Antonelli keeps his head high. Mercedes still has high hopes for this young driver, and even if the day didn’t go as planned, the talent is there. “The pace of the car is there,” says Antonelli. “It’s very tight, because the teams are getting closer to each other now, but that’s why it’s quite disappointing. Because we certainly could have fought for a much better position.”

The weekend is not lost yet, and the rain forecast for the next day could change everything. The Italian remains optimistic: “Tomorrow, it will obviously rain, so many things can happen. We will try to build something good from there.”

A hope for the rookie

The weather changes rapidly in Melbourne, and it might offer an opportunity for Antonelli to shine. After a challenging first experience in qualifying, the rain could level the playing field on the starting grid. « I think the rain could give us the chance to make good progress on the field », said Shovlin, optimistic despite the day’s misfortunes.

For Antonelli, the arrival of rain is a challenge he eagerly anticipates. “This is the second time I’m in the water, so it’s going to be fun, I think,” he joked. “I really like the rain. Obviously, this track seems a bit difficult, but I think we can make something good out of it.” Never underestimate the adaptability of a driver, especially a motivated rookie, even when faced with fickle weather.