Jamie Chadwick believes Kimi Antonelli reverted to old habits after an unnecessary Q1 crash in qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver clipped the wall at Turn 1, damaging the front-left of his car and ending his session prematurely. This came as he leads the drivers' championship by 81 points over teammate George Russell.
“I say it's uncharacteristic. The way we see Kimi drive a lot of the time is that there's one gear. It's all in. It's all everything,” Chadwick explained on Sky Sports. “Last year we saw that come with mistakes and crashes. This year we have not really seen that from him. So it has felt a bit like Kimi of old in a way and it was like that one gear and he just didn't really need to do it.”
An Unnecessary Risk
Chadwick further pointed out that the mistake occurred in a car that was clearly superior on the streets of Baku. “You are in a Mercedes that was clearly in a league of its own at this track, first lap of Q1, you didn't need to take that much risk,” she added. “It just caught him out, the grip that he clearly had at Turn 1. You go into qualifying, and the car is always a bit more alive I guess than it would have been for him in FP3, and it has caught him out. He will pay the price, but I think he can still come through tomorrow.”
As a result, Antonelli will start the race from 16th on the grid. Despite this, 1997 F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve backed the Italian to make his way back through the field. “It's not an inch, it's a lot. An incredible mistake and he does it on a weekend where his team-mate is in a league of his own,” Villeneuve told Sky Sports F1. “So, not the best of times for that, but with the current rules they facilitate getting back through the field.”
Championship Implications
Antonelli's error gave Russell a boost, as the Briton secured pole position. The points gap could shrink if Russell capitalises on his starting position. However, with Mercedes' impressive pace in Baku, Antonelli still has a chance to fight back and score crucial points. The race will be a mental test for the young driver, whether he can turn pressure into performance or remain haunted by his mistake.
With a long season ahead, this incident could be a valuable lesson. Both Chadwick and Villeneuve emphasised that Antonelli's speed is unquestionable, but consistency and calculated risk-taking will be key in the title fight.
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