Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli dropped from sixth to 16th in Zandvoort after picking up two penalties, including one for a collision with Charles Leclerc that ended his race. Antonelli had been showing strong pace before the collision. Watch every session of the Italian Grand Prix from this Friday live on Sky Sports F1.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player.
problems, collision with Charles Leclerc />
A second Ferrari is out of the race after Charles Leclerc collides with Kimi Antonelli at the Dutch Grand Prix.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says they “absolutely expected” a turbulent debut season for Kimi Antonelli in Formula 1 and have no doubts about the youngster's potential after the Dutch Grand Prix was disrupted by a collision with Charles Leclerc.
For 19-year-old Antonelli, the weekend following the Formula 1 season restart in Zandvoort was eventful.
Ultimately, it didn't earn him any points after a collision with Leclerc on race day saw him receive a 10-second penalty. That, coupled with a subsequent five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane, ultimately dropped the Italian from sixth to 16th in the final standings.
- Dutch Grand Prix Result
- Formula 1 Schedule 2025 | Formula 1 Championship Standings
- Download the Sky Sports app for expert analysis, top videos and more 📱
- Don't have a Sky subscription? Subscribe to Sky Sports or watch contract-free now 📺
It means Antonelli has scored just one point in his last five races but Wolff, whose Mercedes team first signed the Italian to its junior programme when he was 12 and who this year became the third-youngest Formula One driver of all time when he replaced Lewis Hamilton, who moved to Ferrari, is not worried.
“When we made it clear last year in Monza that we would give him a chance, that also meant that we would give him a year of learning and there will be moments of tearing our hair out and moments of brilliance,” Wolff said.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli shared their thoughts after the collision that ended Leclerc's race.
“I think this weekend demonstrates that.”
'We want him to succeed' – Wolf on Antonelli's 'ups and downs'
Antonelli's weekend in Zandvoort got off to a bad start when his car skidded onto the gravel in the opening minutes of Friday practice.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player.
Kimi Antonelli got his Mercedes stuck in the gravel during first practice at the Dutch Grand Prix.
After losing the rest of the session, he qualified 11th, although he missed out on Q3 on Saturday.
He dropped to 12th at the start of Sunday's race, behind Yuki Tsunoda's Red Bull, but his weekend was suddenly livened up by the first safety car that came out after Hamilton's Ferrari crash.
Having scored points after the stop, Antonelli made an impressive pass on Alex Albon to finish seventh on lap 34, before being allowed to pass teammate George Russell, whose car had suffered underbody damage in the incident with Leclerc, for sixth place seven laps later.
Antonelli then took on Leclerc himself, but, on the tail of the Ferrari after the Mercedes pitted a lap ahead of the Ferrari, he crashed into his rival's car while attempting to overtake, going low into the banked Turn 3.
Subsequent penalties and two more safety car periods meant his 15-second penalty was particularly costly given the drivers finished closer together than they would have if the race had been run without breaks.
Reflecting on Antonelli's turbulent recent weekend, Wolff said: “A mistake in first practice certainly puts you at a disadvantage for the rest of the weekend and then in the race, in those moments of great driving.”
“Once he got into the open space he found himself behind the McLaren, the fastest car, caught up with it but then had another accident which unfortunately meant the end of Charles’ race.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player.
Highlights of the Dutch Grand Prix from Zandvoort.
“But of course we want him to do well. Of course, there have been ups and downs this season, and each of these days will be a lesson for next year.”
“We are not fighting for the Constructors' Championship. Of course, second and third places are at stake [in the standings], but it is not as important as next year, when it is important to score points.”
Antonelli apologised to Leclerc for the crash after the race and will now head to his first home Italian Grand Prix at Monza next week in a bid to get his season back on track.
Wolf insisted: “One would always like to see learning done with less difficulty than it is today, because the fluctuations are enormous, but they are there. They just need to be peeled, like an artichoke with gold at the end.”
“It is there, and we have no doubt about it.”
The European Formula 1 season concludes with the Italian Grand Prix – watch the whole weekend at Monza live on Sky Sports F1 from Friday. Watch Sky Sports now – no contract, cancel anytime.
Sourse: skysports.com
