Kimi Antonelli Maintains Confidence After Monza FP2 Spin

Kimi Antonelli insists his confidence remains high despite an early spin prematurely ending his Friday FP2 session at the Italian Grand Prix.

Why it matters:

Antonelli, a Mercedes junior driver, is a strong contender for an F1 seat in 2025. His performance in F2 is under intense scrutiny, especially during a challenging European season. Missing crucial track time at Monza could impact his preparation for qualifying and the race, but his quick recovery and sustained confidence are key.

The details:

• Antonelli started the Monza weekend positively, finishing fifth in the opening practice session (FP1).
• However, just 10 minutes into FP2, he spun into the gravel at the second Lesmo corner.
• This incident brought his day to an early close, preventing him from gathering more data and setup insights.
• "I pushed a bit too hard for the grip that was there in the moment," Antonelli admitted.
• Despite the setback, he stated: "My confidence is still high, just tomorrow I will have to do a bit of a different programme. But we'll try to be ready for anything."

What's next:

Antonelli is focused on securing the highest possible qualifying result. He acknowledged that qualifying at Monza is expected to be extremely tight, with little separating many cars. He aims to deliver his best pace and start as far forward as possible to capitalize on the weekend.