Andrea Kimi Antonelli achieved in Spa-Francorchamps his sixth pole of 2026 in 10 races. About the Italian, leader of the World with 25 points over his teammate George Russell and 32 before Lewis Hamiltonit stopped being a coincidence a long time ago. He rules the championship, he is the fastest driver despite his breaks in Barcelona and Silverstoneand has already been the fastest in two meccas like Monaco either Belgium. The boy is serious.
We improved a lot in the second sector, it is the place where I gained the most time and it is very good. But we have to focus on the race
This is how the starting grid looks.
“We improved a lot in the second sector, it is the place where I gained the most time and it is very good. But we have to focus on the race,” pointed out the Italian. That shone all weekend and survived in Q3 a tactic from the Red Bull. As Isaac Hadjar had a penalty (he will start 21st), they could have sacrificed him to favor slipstream Max Verstappen and touched the best time. His gain of 12km/h in the last sector was key.
Although Red Bull He made it clear that pole position was not possible. “It is the best result we could opt for. There were many cars to be second, but the teamwork was very good,” he commented. Laurent Mekies in the microphones DAZN. Of course, the tactic was brilliant and intelligent. “We had been discussing it since the beginning of the weekend. Isack (Hadjar) did it perfectly and I think we could not have extracted anything more,” added the French leader.
We had been discussing it since the beginning of the weekend. Isack (Hadjar) did it perfectly and I think we couldn’t have extracted anything more
It is worth it to place Verstappen with Antonelli on the first line, something key to attack. “We will have to maintain first position in a tough race until turn 5. It will not be easy. But we have to try to set the pace,” the Italian said as a key. Whatever comes out, its level does not understand discussion and the message to the rest is notable.
In fact, it seems almost impossible to hunt him down. “We don’t have that rhythm, without the slipstream we would come out sixth,” he commented. Verstappen. And a similar reading is launched from further back. “The difference is in the straights, we have a deficit due to pure performance and we lack speed on the straight. Better tracks will come,” he commented Fred Vasseur, head of Ferrari, with its fifth and sixth cars. Until Norriswho had the provisional pole in the first minutes. “I wouldn’t have improved without a mistake on the second lap because my first lap was impressive. It hurts to see another car with four tenths of advantage, but Kimi “He does a great job,” concluded the champion.
