Formula 1 World Championship leader Kimi Antonelli: These are the rivals he has his sights set on at Spa

For Kimi Antonelli, the race at Silverstone did not go to plan. Near the Mercedes Formula 1 factory, he started strongly, but in the end he had to settle for a points-less 15th place. The reason for this was a part of the brake cooling system that broke off and became jammed. The Italian struggled to get his car to the finish line. He also received a penalty for exceeding the track limits.

Nevertheless, he does not look back on it with nothing but regret, as he revealed in the paddock at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. For despite the disappointing finish, the Mercedes team put in a remarkable performance. He said: “Overall, the weekend at Silverstone was actually very strong. Our pace was very good in all sessions, even though we had a few problems. That’s fundamentally positive.”

However, the teenager also admits: “Of course, it’s very frustrating when you’re doing well and then suddenly get set back through no fault of your own. But that’s part and parcel of motor racing; these things just happen. They’re external factors that I can’t influence. All I can do is make sure I make the most of every opportunity that comes my way and get the best out of the car.”

Asked about the likelihood of making amends at the iconic Belgian circuit at Spa, Antonelli explains confidently: “Our car has been quick in every race so far this year. And that’s why I expect us to be right up there again here.”

The Mercedes star, who leads the World Championship by 25 points ahead of his team-mate George Russell, also warns: “Ferrari were very strong at Silverstone, which, to be honest, came as a surprise to us. Although, of course, we generally expected them to be among the frontrunners. After all, they’ve always managed to find a bit of extra time in qualifying. Red Bull Racing shouldn’t be written off either; they keep managing to improve. But I think our overall package will be good here because, as I said, the season so far has shown that we’re well-positioned on all circuits.”

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17.07.2026 - 13:15