Kieran is a freelance Formula 1 journalist for GPblog, covering breaking news, live race blogs and feature content across the F1 calendar. An NQJ-qualified journalist with more than a decade of experience, he has previously written for publications including MailOnline, the Manchester Evening News and the Eastern Daily Press.
Kimi Antonelli spun on his way to the grid for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix after locking up at the Junção corner ahead of what is set to be a wet race.
The Mercedes driver managed to get going again and is set to start second alongside pole-sitter Lando Norris.
Antonelli went straight on at the left-hander and spun on the grass as he tried to find traction. He managed to make it back onto the track under his own power.
Fortunately for the new world champion, he managed to keep the car out of the barriers, as he came over the team radio and said: "Wow it's undriveable".
Junção had already caught out three drivers in Saturday’s wet qualifying. Gabriel Bortoleto and Rafael Câmara both hit the barriers there, while Carlos Sainz went off at the same corner in both Q1 and Q2.
ADVERTISEMENT
Antonelli qualified third on Saturday but was promoted to the front row after Mercedes teammate George Russell received a five-place grid penalty.
Mercedes checked for damage on Antonelli's car
After his moment into the grass, Antonelli went straight into the pits so that his car could be checked over.
Fortunately for the Italian, Antonelli's car appeared to be unscathed as Mercedes sent the Italian straight back out to take his place on the grid.
ADVERTISEMENT
Click here for our live text coverage of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Don’t miss GPblog in Google
Mark us as a preferred source and our articles will appear more often at the top of Top Stories.
Add as a preferred / source on Google
