Kimi Antonelli experienced a challenging start during the first practice session at Zandvoort, leaving many to question his preparedness for the weekend. The young Italian driver’s return to racing took a painful turn just 15 minutes into FP1, when an off-track excursion into the gravel halted his progress and cost him valuable track time.
This early misstep resulted in Antonelli finishing 12th in the initial session, a disappointing position given the high expectations surrounding him. The incident also shook his confidence, which is vital for a strong qualifying performance at a demanding circuit like Zandvoort.
Struggles Continue Through Second Practice Session
The effects of losing essential track time were clear in FP2, where Antonelli ended nearly a second behind George Russell, a known frontrunner. With inclement weather threatening to disrupt the remainder of the weekend, the pressure intensified for Antonelli to deliver a cleaner and more competitive run as the sessions progressed.
Reflecting on the difficulties he faced, Antonelli admitted the challenge he encountered early on:
Mistakes Cost Me Valuable Track Time!
—Kimi Antonelli, Driver
He further detailed his experience during FP1, saying,
At the start of FP1, I was pushing really hard, but then I had a lock-up and ended up off the track. My session ended after just one lap. Obviously, it wasn’t ideal because I lost track time and barely completed any laps.
—Kimi Antonelli, Driver
Maintaining Optimism Despite Setbacks
Despite the rocky start, Antonelli remains determined to improve and adapt as the weekend unfolds. He expressed cautious optimism about his progress in the second practice, acknowledging the ongoing work needed to raise his pace.
In FP2, I had to rebuild my rhythm; there is still a lot of work to be done, but we know where we need to improve, and now we’re looking forward to tomorrow with optimism,
he explained.
Preparing for a potentially rain-affected qualifying session, Antonelli emphasized his readiness to adjust his approach based on changing conditions. He stated,
We’ll see what the weather brings tomorrow. If it’s dry, we’ll work on improving the few things I found decent today. Sure, there were several mistakes during the lap, but we’ll be ready for tomorrow.
—Kimi Antonelli, Driver
Outlook for Qualifying and the Weekend Ahead
As qualifying approaches, all attention will focus on whether Kimi Antonelli can recover from his difficult start and deliver a strong performance on race day. The Zandvoort circuit, known for its technical demands, will test his ability to overcome the early setbacks. With the pressure mounting and challenges in store, the weekend offers Antonelli a critical opportunity to demonstrate resilience and talent.
