Kimi Antonelli got back to the podium in the F1 2026 Austrian GP. The Mercedes driver finished third less than two seconds behind Russell at the front and less than one second behind Verstappen in P2.
After an unlucky Qualifying on Saturday, Antonelli started P4 on the grid for the race. The Italian driver had committed an “unfortunate” mistake in Q3, unnecessarily aborting his fast lap after a yellow flag confusion. Still, he was eager for the race.
His excitement seemed to get the better of him at the start as he left the track on multiple occasions while trying to pressure the cars ahead. Eventually, Antonelli stabilised and overtook Leclerc, although he had lost out to Max Verstappen in the process.
The Mercedes driver found himself in P1 after Russell, Verstappen, and Hamilton pitted earlier. As Sainz stopped on the starting grid, Antonelli pitted a bit too early under yellow flags, just as a Virtual Safety Car was called moments later.
Even with some brake issues, the young driver got back in front. Yet once again, pitted just before a VSC was deployed for a loose bollard in turn 3.
By the end of the race, Antonelli gave his all in the final stint, cutting down the gap to Verstappen. After hunting down the Dutchman — who also pressured Russell ahead — Antonelli crossed the finish line on the Red Bull’s tail, just missing out on stealing P2.
Antonelli on first laps mistakes and exciting finish at the F1 2026 Austrian GP
During the post-race interviews, David Coulthard asked Antonelli about his first lap struggles to stay on track.
“Yeah, I mean, I was a bit too excited in the first few laps and definitely didn’t drive well. I did too many mistakes,” the Italian driver admitted.
“And even in the first stint on the medium, I lost three, four seconds with mistakes. I was struggling with the brakes, but then I think after I changed tyre, I reset, and the pace was again very strong.”
Antonelli summed up: “And it was a shame that I joined the party a bit too late.”
Still, the Mercedes driver spoke happily about the race finish, as he hunted down Max Verstappen in P2. “Yeah, I mean, it was going to be, you know, two, three, four laps would have been a lot of fun.”
He concluded: “But yeah, of course, congrats to George and Max, great weekend. On my side, there’s a lot to improve, but still minimised the mistakes.”
Antonelli: “The pace was just there but of course fell a bit short”
During the post-race press conference, Antonelli further reflected on his overall weekend performance. He felt he potentially got a bit too comfortable considering his speed through most of Friday and Saturday.
“It was a weekend where I started very strong, and I think because of that I kind of lowered the intensity a bit too much,” the Italian confessed. He had topped FP1 and FP2, finished P2 in FP3, and after an unlucky mistake, qualified P4.
“And coming to qualifying, I just felt a bit tense, driving-wise. We were still up there, but I felt like I wasn’t driving that well and not as free.
“Of course, the last lap, it went like that, but I was a tenth behind George, so it probably would have been P2, very close, but P2. Of course, it went like that.”
Antonelli explained: “And obviously starting from P4, first lap was really bad for me. And then I really struggled with brakes, and I just lost a lot of time because I started to do mistakes.
“But then second stint was a bit better, and then third stint was really, really strong,”
He concluded: “The pace was just there but of course fell a bit short.”
Antonelli on “what ifs” and learning from the Austrian GP
When asked if there were any moments during the race that if different, could have meant he could challenge Russell for the win, Antonelli stated: “Well, the whole first stint.
“I think at the end of the first stint, I had a couple of mistakes and I lost probably one, one and a half seconds each lap, because one time I almost went off in Turn 4, one lap I went off in Turn 3. So, I lost a lot of time.”
Still, the young driver did not dwell on what could have been. “But of course, it’s easy to say now,” he said. “The mistakes were made, and definitely without them, probably could have had the chance to fight for P2 or even P1.
“But of course, easy to say now, and need to make sure they don’t happen again,” Antonelli concluded.
The Mercedes driver leaves Austria defending his championship lead. He remains P1 with 171 points, as teammate George Russell closes in and returns to P2 with 131.
