Kimi Antonelli admits concentration lapse after Austria Grand Prix qualifying error
Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli said he reduced his focus during the Austrian Grand Prix weekend, mistakenly believing a double‑yellow flag was shown in qualifying. He stopped his lap early, qualifying fourth instead of a higher grid position. In the race he made several off‑track excursions before recovering to finish third, narrowly missing Max Verstappen’s second place.
Team boss Toto Wolff praised teammate George Russell, who identified the single yellow flag, secured pole and won the race, narrowing Antonelli’s championship lead to 40 points. Antonelli remains the championship favourite with a 68‑point advantage built on five consecutive wins.
Outside Formula 1, Antonelli confirmed he will travel to Wimbledon to support friend Jannik Sinner, the world‑number‑one Italian tennis player, after finishing his Silverstone weekend.
“I saw a double flag, probably my error,” Antonelli said about the qualifying mistake.