Andrea Kimi Antonelli has revealed that he hopes to be matching Mercedes team-mate George Russell for pace by the end of this year’s Formula 1 season.
The Italian’s debut season in F1 has not been smooth sailing by any means, after a barren run without points since his maiden podium in Canada two months ago.
But there is no doubting the 18-year-old’s ability, and much of the difficulties suffered since his finest moment in Montreal can be pinned on the W16’s unpredictability.
Antonelli was able to show what he was capable of earlier in the season, in which he scored the bulk of his current haul of 64 points.
And Canada aside, his greatest achievement to date was perhaps his stunning pole position for the Miami Sprint back in May.
However, one-lap pace has become an issue for Antonelli, something he explained in more detail to Auto Mundo und Sport.
“I’m still struggling to understand how much the car can deliver over a qualifying lap,” he said.
“You’re so close to the limit that it’s very easy to go a little over it. I’m still trying to find that fine line.”
“The grip is extremely high in qualifying,” he added. “You go into the corners so much faster than in the race.
“And on every lap, you think: ‘I can go even faster through this corner.’ I’m not yet at the point where I’m at the absolute limit on the first lap.”
Antonelli said he believes he is “feeling my way towards the limit,” but noted that qualifying “doesn’t give you many opportunities to work your way up to it.
“On top of that,” he concluded, “the limit changes constantly with the conditions. But I’m working on it.”
Antonelli hopeful of matching Russell: ‘He’s one of the best’
Despite a tough second quarter of the campaign, it is clear that Antoneli still has the backing of everyone at the Brackley-based squad.
The W16’s much maligned suspension upgrade, which has now been abandoned, has been given a big share of the blame in his downturn in performance.
And whilst Antonelli gave himself a harsh review of his qualifying pace, he gave himself a fair assessment of some of his race abilities, notably tyre management.
“I find tyre management easier because you don’t drive at the absolute limit in the race,” he said. “Then you also know better how much the car will forgive you.”
There appears to be little problems in Antonelli’s confidence, has he hopes to be able to match Russell by the end of the year, a high target given the even higher praise he lavished on him/
“My goal has to be to drive the same times as him,” he explained. “I also believe that’s possible. George is having an extremely strong season.
“He’s showing that he’s one of the best. Especially when the car is working, he demonstrates what he can do.
“He’s a really challenging teammate. If I were at his level at the end of the year, that would be an honour.”
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