Antonelli Stays Confident Despite Monza FP2 Crash

Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Kimi Antonelli remains confident despite a crash in the second free practice (FP2) session at the 2025 Italian Grand Prix in Monza. The young Mercedes driver spun into the gravel at Lesmo 2 just 10 minutes into FP2, ending his session early and missing critical track time.

Sportrik’s in-depth analysis, based on the FP2 session on September 5, 2025, details Antonelli’s performance and his outlook for the weekend.

Early End to FP2 After Lesmo 2 Crash

Antonelli started the weekend positively, securing fifth place in the first free practice (FP1). However, his FP2 session ended abruptly when he lost control at Lesmo 2, sliding into the gravel and triggering a red flag. “I pushed a bit too hard for the grip that was there,” Antonelli admitted. The incident limited him to just four laps, finishing 19th with a time of 1:21.367s, 1.489s slower than Lando Norris (McLaren).

The crash, reminiscent of his FP1 incident at Monza last year, adds pressure to his rookie season. Despite this, Antonelli expressed confidence in the car’s setup, stating, “I felt pretty confident, we were moving in the right direction with the set-up.”

Focus on a Competitive Qualifying

With limited FP2 laps, Antonelli acknowledged the need for a modified approach on Saturday. “Tomorrow I’ll have to do a bit of a different programme,” he said. While not setting specific targets, he aims to maximize his qualifying result on September 6, 2025. He noted the tight competition, with 10 drivers within 0.4 seconds in FP2. “Qualifying is going to be pretty tight, it looks pretty close out there,” he added.

Antonelli remains optimistic about his pace, saying, “The pace felt good, so we’ll try to deliver the best pace possible and start as far forward as possible.” His FP1 performance suggests he can compete with drivers like Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and Carlos Sainz (Williams).

Despite the FP2 setback, Antonelli’s mental resilience shines through, a key trait for a young driver under scrutiny. With Mercedes support and the advantage of racing at his home circuit, he has a chance to rebound in qualifying and the race. The tight midfield battle, including Red Bull and Sauber, will test his ability to recover.

Stay tuned for Sportrik’s comprehensive coverage of Antonelli’s progress at the 2025 Italian Grand Prix at SPORTRIK.