Kimi Antonelli crashes in Baku qualifying, drops to 16th on the grid
Rookie Kimi Antonelli hit the wall during Baku qualifying, ending his Q2 run and relegating him to a 16th-place start.
In the qualifying session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Baku's street circuit, young driver Kimi Antonelli struck the wall at the close of the first qualifying segment, which stopped him from recording a lap in Q2. As a result, he will start the Saturday race from 16th position. Antonelli apologized straight after the crash, acknowledging his error.
The event follows practice sessions that saw George Russell and Max Verstappen post the fastest laps. The programme also notes the return of Isack Hadjar as Verstappen's teammate for the race, and it provides the latest driver and constructor standings, with Mercedes leading the championship.
How this was covered
- Coverage peaked at 8 outlets in a single hour
Why it matters
The crash reshapes Antonelli's starting position and underscores the challenges faced by rookie drivers in Formula 1.
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