Kimi Antonelli Hurt After British GP Points Loss

Kimi Antonelli admitted his failure to score at the British GP 2026 hurts after seeing his championship lead significantly reduced.

The Mercedes driver had been in position to challenge for victory at Silverstone as he closed on race leader Charles Leclerc. Antonelli held a substantial tyre advantage in the closing stages before a technical problem changed the direction of his race.

A wheel shield failure left Antonelli struggling to keep the car under control. Two trips through the pit lane dropped him to ninth, while he suggested there may have been a deeper issue beyond the team’s initial diagnosis.

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“I lost, I don't know how much downforce, the car wouldn't turn anymore,” Antonelli told media including RacingNews365.

“In some of the corners, the wheel was in the air, so there was something fundamental that was broken.”

“We only know now that the wheel shield broke, but we don't know if something else broke, because by the loss it feels like it was more than just a wheel shield.”

“But then, of course, the team will have more time to analyse it. It was a shame, because we had a shot for the win today.”

Antonelli’s setback worsened when he was handed a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits while trying to continue with the car problem. After the field bunched up under a late safety car, the penalty ensured he would finish outside the points.

“These are the rules, so I cannot do anything about it,” Antonelli added.

“I was trying my best to stay on track, but it was really undrivable. To get a penalty for that, it hurts, but these are the rules, and nothing I can do about it.”

The scoreless Silverstone result is a major blow for Antonelli in the title fight, especially as a victory chance had been available before the failure emerged. For Mercedes, the technical review of the wheel shield and any possible additional damage will become a key priority before the next round.