Kimi Antonelli had to tolerate teammate George Russell ahead of him during the sprint qualifying for the Canadian GP. Both Mercedes drivers occupied the front row, but the Italian had to settle for the second starting position. According to experts, the weekend in Montreal is an important benchmark for Antonelli, who can further extend his championship lead here. The young world championship leader is confident in the latest upgrade package.
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“I made a mistake in the first sector,” Antonelli responded after the sprint qualifying to Sky Sports. “I decided to push immediately to make optimal use of the first lap on the soft tires, but they were still too cold.” The winner of the last three Grands Prix got a second chance to put his Mercedes on sprint pole, but to no avail. “In my second attempt, I did not use the grip well in the first sector.” As a result, he was seven hundredths short of Russell.
Good start
“I am still in second place and I am not far behind Russell; the difference is not big,” he continued. “Considering the lap I drove, I can be quite satisfied. Honestly, I expected it to be worse.” On the second row are the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, both fast and eager to outsmart the Mercedes cars. A good start therefore promises to be essential for Antonelli, who has already lost many positions in the opening laps in recent months.
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To help Antonelli on his way, Mercedes – which brought an extensive upgrade package to Montreal – installed an adjusted clutch lever on the steering wheel. “During free practice, the starts were definitely better,” the 19-year-old driver said relieved. “We have to try to take advantage of that in the race tomorrow. But for now, the changes can be called very positive.” He was also satisfied with the rest of the adjustments. “All updates seem to work. We are still exploring the new package because the balance of the car has changed somewhat. But everything seems to function well. I am looking forward to the sprint race.”
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Read everything about the Canadian GP here
