Andrea Kimi Antonelli conceded that Mercedes might do not more than the second place he secured on the System 1 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
The Italian, who began the race from third, powered by means of at lights out to take the lead from a slow-starting Max Verstappen, after the race begin was delayed by round 100 minutes on account of rainfall and an obvious software program glitch that brought on quite a few vehicles to gradual or cease on the formation lap.
Antonelli was, nonetheless, nullified by the acute efficiency of the Crimson Bull bundle on the Sepang Circuit, with Verstappen taking a commanding victory, regardless of a late Security Automotive giving the Italian hope.
It was nonetheless, nonetheless, a day for Antonelli to have a good time personally, as his consequence and teammate George Russell’s late DNF – brought on by an obvious PU situation – sees him prolong his title lead by one other 18 factors.
Talking in parc ferme after the race, Antonelli believed that the German marque extracted essentially the most out of the W17 this weekend, which didn’t sustain with Ferrari and Crimson Bull throughout the weekend.
“I feel in the present day, [it] was the utmost we might have carried out,” he mentioned. “After all, huge congrats to Max and Crimson Bull for the unimaginable weekend and on our aspect, a whole lot of work to do.
“After all, you realize, we’ve been struggling a bit greater than ordinary however nonetheless actually, actually pleased to return away with it too.”
READ MORE – F1 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia – Race Outcomes
