Antonelli makes title 'wake-up call' admission after Dutch GP Qualifying mistakes
Photo: Race Pictures
Henry Eccles is a freelance Formula 1 journalist for GPblog, covering breaking news, live race blogs, and features across the F1 calendar. Since joining in 2026, he has produced high-volume reporting on the sport’s biggest stories, alongside feature pieces including analysis and historical content.
Kimi Antonelli has said his Dutch GP weekend so far has been a "wake-up call" after qualifying in P3 behind his Mercedes teammate and title rival George Russell and pole-sitter Lando Norris. The young Italian has pointed to two mistakes in two days, and is wary that he cannot "lower his guard" in the championship fight.
Following Saturday's Sprint Race, in which Antonelli finished P4, the 19-year-old sits 53 points ahead of Lewis Hamilton in the Drivers' title race, but he did lose some ground to teammate Russell, who won from Pole Position.
Antonelli picked up "big time" damage during SQ1 on Friday after bouncing onto the gravel track at Turn 13 in Zandvoort, which he felt compromised the rest of his Sprint Qualifying. The Italian has now pointed to another costly mistake during Grand Prix Qualifying, but is adamant pressures relating to the title race are not getting to him despite the "wake-up call."
Antonelli reveals visibility issues amid Qualifying 'wake-up call'
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Photo: Race Pictures
F1's youngest-ever championship leader told GPblog and other media: "No, I don’t feel any extra pressure. But it was a very good wake-up call this weekend, that you can never lower your guard because when you do that… I did a mistake yesterday and today I did a mistake in Q3.
"So, it’s not that I’m driving more tense or anything, but I just feel this weekend is a good wake-up call, and to just again put things in the right place at the right time and just deliver the result when it counts."
Explaining his issues during Qualifying, Antonelli said he was affected by poor visibility as the rain started to pour in Q3, which impacted how he approached Turn 1.
Antonelli said: "Just struggling with the balance, to be fair, throughout the whole session. Mainly Sector 3, was struggling in the chicane. And then just made a couple of changes and the feeling came back.
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"But obviously, in the last lap I did a mistake in Sector 1. Took it a bit too easy seeing the rain on the visor and just, yeah, was a really poor Sector 1. And shame because I think we had a shot for pole, but still starting P3 tomorrow and all to play for."
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