Mercedes Driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli looked crushed after a disappointing qualification of the Belgian Grand Prix.
Antonelli finished 20th in Sprint qualifications due to uncontrollable transmission after pushing too loudly on his last round of SQ1.
He finished in 17th place for the Sprint race, winning a few places, but could not capture points.
Then, by qualifying for the Grand Prix, Antonelli finished in P18, a much lower position than the merit of the car.
Photo by Jayce Illman / Getty Images
His teammate, George Russell, begins sixthly, presenting the potential of the W16 as a car which belongs to a points of points of points.
During the media session after the race, Antonelli appeared emotional after another performance.
“Yeah, I mean, from Europe [leg of the] Entry, I had trouble finding confidence with the car, and I feel like I took a step back, “said the Italian driver.
“It’s a difficult time for me because I feel that I don’t trust by pushing. Yesterday, I tried to push a little too much, then I turned, then it hurts even more confidence.
“But this is a difficult period, I think. We know the limitation that we have had a lot, but with the way I drive, I increase the problem. And that gives me even less confidence with the car.”
It was only about three tenths after the first trimester, which made its performance not a complete disaster, but it was far from the impressive rhythm he showed during the first handful of races.
During the North American swing, he won a Sprint victory in Miami and his first podium in Canada.
Since then, it was downhill for the driver, who expressed his concerns about changes in his driving style as the car has evolved.
“Well, the team tried to help me as much as possible,” he added.
“But for my part, I probably try to change the way I drive too much. And I have the impression that I do not drive naturally. It is very forced the way I drive and it is simply difficult.”
The Italian will start from the lane of the stands while the team adjusts to the car, depending on the weather conditions, which should bring rain on the track throughout the race.
Qualification results of the Belgian Grand Prix
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Alex Albon (Williams)
- George Russell (Mercedes)
- Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)
- Esteban Ocon (Haas)
- Ollie Bearman (Haas)
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
- Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)
- Carlos Sainz (Williams)
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
- Franco Corpape (Williams)
- Some Antonelli (Mercedes)
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
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