Kimi Antontelli on big step forward after “zero confidence” in practice

Andrea Kimi Antonelli revealed that he “felt lost” during practice in Suzuka after making a step forward in qualifying where he secured a sixth-place start on the grid for the Japanese Grand Prix.

The Mercedes driver admitted to Sky Sports that he lost confidence during the practice sessions as he struggled to find improvements in the W16.

“I’m not going to lie – in free practice, I was lost and had zero confidence, mainly because I was really struggling to improve,” Antonelli explained.

“Qualifying was a big step forward but I am disappointed I had to make such a step. It was way too big.

“You’re not arriving qualifying already with a good confidence, and I really arrived with zero confidence. So definitely, you know, ahead of the next one, I need to be more proactive in practice, try to find the limit a bit better.

“Of course, it’s not an easy track this one, and was also new, but I think on that side I can do better to arrive more prepared in free practice.”

Looking ahead to the race tomorrow and the predicted rain, Antonelli added:

“I mean, I wouldn’t mind if it would rain tomorrow, even for the first part of the race.

“But yeah, I mean, the weather seems like it’s going that way, mainly for the start, but I think now, I will have a lot of data to look on ahead of tomorrow and then we’ll see what we can do.”

Max Verstappen secured pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix and will be joined on the front row by his McLaren rival, Lando Norris. Antonelli’s team-mate George Russell will start from fifth on the grid, a position he is not overly pleased with.

“I was really disappointed with P5 as I have felt great all weekend. It got a bit cooler in P3, I tried something different with the tyres and it just didn’t work. That is frustrating but it could be worse,” the British driver commented to Sky Sports.

“P5 it not a terrible place to start and with some rain potentially around tomorrow anything can happen. We are definitely there or thereabouts to fight for the podium, maybe not the win. But with changeable conditions, who knows?”