Kimi Antonelli admits he’s pissed off to be dealing with the duty of attempting to beat Lando Norris once more within the Sao Paulo Grand Prix after qualifying on the entrance row alongside the championship chief.
The identical entrance row was seen for the Dash on Saturday, and Norris held on for victory regardless of late strain from Piastri, who appeared barely faster all through the second half of the race. Qualifying noticed Antonelli once more within the combine for pole place however he needed to accept second, organising a repeat on Sunday.
“To be truthful, I am a bit irritated I am behind him once more,” Antonelli mentioned. “I imply, we have been so shut this morning within the Dash as properly, however it was a really tough session with the wind, very tough to place a lap collectively, however I nonetheless managed on the final run to place in a good lap, and I’m pleased with that.
“Beginning P2 tomorrow. After all, they’re very quick, so it will be vital to get a very good begin and attempt to set a very good tempo.”
Antonelli solely has one podium to his title in a grand prix to this point this season, however he says he’s focusing on victory given the efficiency he has proven to this point, plus a doubtlessly favorable climate forecast for Mercedes.
“Positively [in the fight],” he mentioned. “The tempo this morning was actually robust. It was additionally fairly chilly and tomorrow must be sort of the identical, so perhaps that may assist us a little bit bit extra. Working in soiled air is rarely straightforward. Hopefully we are able to have robust tempo and put strain on them and hopefully we are able to struggle for the win.
“We’ve seen many races to this point this season that the beginning and monitor place can play an enormous function for the remainder of the race. After all, Lando has been beginning very strongly lately, so we want one thing distinctive. On my facet, I simply attempt to do a standard begin, not attempt to do an excessive amount of, after which a minimum of maintain place. Then we’ll see from there.”
Though the Italian rookie is focusing on victory, he says he has the constructors’ championship image in thoughts as properly, as Mercedes at present sits six factors away from Ferrari and 17 forward of Pink Bull.
“It’s an enormous alternative,” he mentioned. “I feel it’s going to be vital to attempt to end forward of the Ferrari, to outscore them, as a result of clearly the struggle may be very tight. We will rating large [against Red Bull] … so positively that’s the aim.
“That’s why tomorrow goes to be vital to set a very good tempo, to attempt to put strain – however on the similar time, to attempt to obtain the most effective consequence doable within the second. [It’s] an enormous alternative, and that’s why as a workforce we’ll attempt to do our greatest.”
