Kimi Antonelli admits he’s pissed off to be going through the duty of making an attempt to beat Lando Norris once more within the Sao Paulo Grand Prix after qualifying on the entrance row alongside the championship chief.
The identical entrance row was seen for the Dash on Saturday, and Norris held on for victory regardless of late stress from Piastri, who appeared barely faster all through the second half of the race. Qualifying noticed Antonelli once more within the combine for pole place however he needed to accept second, establishing a repeat on Sunday.
“To be honest, I am a bit aggravated I am behind him once more,” Antonelli mentioned. “I imply, we had been so shut this morning within the Dash as properly, nevertheless it was a really tough session with the wind, very tough to place a lap collectively, however I nonetheless managed on the final run to place in a good lap, and I’m proud of that.
“Beginning P2 tomorrow. In fact, they’re very quick, so it may be vital to get a very good begin and attempt to set a very good tempo.”
Antonelli solely has one podium to his title in a grand prix up to now this season, however he says he’s concentrating on victory given the efficiency he has proven up to now, plus a probably favorable climate forecast for Mercedes.
“Undoubtedly [in the fight],” he mentioned. “The tempo this morning was actually robust. It was additionally fairly chilly and tomorrow must be type of the identical, so possibly that may assist us just a little bit extra. Operating in soiled air is rarely simple. Hopefully we will have robust tempo and put stress on them and hopefully we will struggle for the win.
“We’ve seen many races up to now this season that the beginning and monitor place can play a large position for the remainder of the race. In fact, Lando has been beginning very strongly lately, so we’d like one thing distinctive. On my facet, I simply attempt to do a standard begin, not attempt to do an excessive amount of, after which at the least maintain place. Then we’ll see from there.”
Though the Italian rookie is concentrating on victory, he says he has the constructors’ championship image in thoughts as properly, as Mercedes at the moment sits six factors away from Ferrari and 17 forward of Crimson Bull.
“It’s a large alternative,” he mentioned. “I believe it’s going to be vital to try to end forward of the Ferrari, to outscore them, as a result of clearly the struggle could be very tight. We are able to rating large [against Red Bull] … so undoubtedly that’s the purpose.
“That’s why tomorrow goes to be vital to set a very good tempo, to try to put stress – however on the identical time, to try to obtain one of the best outcome doable within the second. [It’s] a large alternative, and that’s why as a workforce we’ll attempt to do our greatest.”
