Formula 1 championship leader Kimi Antonelli described the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as the worst weekend of his season after recovering from a costly qualifying crash to finish fifth in Saturday’s race in Baku.
The 20-year-old Italian started 16th after his qualifying error and also endured a hydraulics problem during Thursday's practice. His difficult weekend coincided with a victory for Mercedes teammate George Russell, who cut Antonelli’s championship lead from 81 to 66 points.
Antonelli, who has won eight races this season, had been targeting a third consecutive victory after his breakthrough win at the Italian Grand Prix earlier this month.
Instead, his recovery in Baku was a more measured affair. He was also affected by contact with a Haas car during the race and said he had focused on limiting the damage.
“Obviously, it was the worst weekend by far of the season,” Antonelli said.
“I felt always a step behind and especially with the mistake in qualifying, the confidence level was not high.”
His fifth-place finish was a sharp contrast to his performance at his home race in Italy, where he charged from 19th on the grid to take victory.
Russell's victory was his third of the season and strengthened his position in the championship fight with Antonelli.
Antonelli said the Baku weekend had provided lessons ahead of the next race in Malaysia, where he expects to return to his previous level of performance.
“I think this weekend taught me a lot,” he said.
“I’ll just make sure that next weekend we get back at the right level.”
Antonelli remains on course to become the first Italian Formula 1 world champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953.
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