Race car driver Kimi Antonelli recently shed light on the extensive floor damage his Mercedes sustained during the Chinese Grand Prix. The mystery surrounding the origin of the damage had Antonelli reflecting on his race, leading him to conclude that running over debris from Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari was the probable cause. Despite his car’s damage and his struggles on the track, Antonelli managed to finish in a commendable 6th place, after the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were disqualified for an underweight car and excessive plank wear respectively.
The Chinese Grand Prix marked Antonelli’s second race with Mercedes. George Russell, his teammate, secured back-to-back podiums for Mercedes with a fresh P3 result. Antonelli, shockingly, was oblivious to the fact that his Mercedes W16 was damaged throughout the race. He revealed that the damage likely came from hitting Leclerc’s discarded Ferrari front wing endplate, which was set loose after a collision between Leclerc and Hamilton during the opening lap.
“I felt something was off, and then the team informed me about the floor damage from lap one,” Antonelli disclosed. He continued, “I remember driving over Leclerc’s wing when he lost it. At the time, I didn’t really consider it could cause any damage. But it did, and I was struggling significantly. It affected my traction and power. In retrospect, without the damage, the race could have unfolded differently.”
Antonelli went on to express his desire to examine the race data to identify areas for improvement, stating, “The car’s pace is there, I just need to refine my skills and strategize better for improved results.”
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff shared further details of the extent of the damage on Antonelli’s W16. He confirmed, “We had significant holes in the floor and missing titanium streaks. We’re unsure whether it was caused by running over Charles’s endplate.” Wolff praised Antonelli for his perseverance and maturity, saying, “Despite driving a severely impaired car and finishing eighth, he didn’t complain and just carried on, showcasing his potential and maturity.”
Further validating Antonelli’s performance, he was named Driver of the Day in a surprising fan verdict. Wolff acknowledged the significance of this accolade, pointing out that it reflects the demographic of Formula 1 fans. He emphasized the importance of Formula 1 as a platform that reminds us of the potential and maturity of young drivers like Antonelli.
