Kimi Antonelli has admitted he’s annoyed at being confronted with the duty of beating Lando Norris once more on the Sao Paulo Grand Prix after qualifying on the entrance row alongside the championship chief.
Saturday’s dash noticed the identical entrance row, with Norris holding on for the win regardless of late strain from Piastri, who seemed barely sooner all through the second half of the race. In qualifying, Antonelli was as soon as once more in rivalry for pole place, however needed to accept second place and determined to repeat Sunday.
“To be truthful, I am just a little annoyed being behind him once more,” Antonelli stated. “So regardless that we have been shut within the dash this morning, it was a really difficult session with the wind and it was very tough to match the laps, however I used to be nonetheless in a position to set an honest lap on the final run so I’m joyful.”
“We’ll begin from second tomorrow. After all they’re very quick, so it will be necessary to get a superb begin and set a superb tempo.”
Antonelli has solely completed on the rostrum as soon as in a grand prix this season, however stated he was concentrating on victory given his performances to this point and the favorable climate forecast for Mercedes.
“Undoubtedly (within the sport),” he stated. “The tempo this morning was actually sturdy. It was very chilly and we must always have related climate tomorrow, so which may assist just a little bit extra. Operating in soiled air isn’t straightforward. Hopefully we’ve got sturdy tempo and may put strain on them and hopefully combat for the win.”
“I’ve seen numerous races to this point this season, and the beginning and observe place can have a big effect on the remainder of the races. After all, Lando has had some actually sturdy begins recently, so he wants one thing particular. For me, I am not going to attempt too exhausting and attempt to get a standard begin and not less than maintain my place. We’ll see after that.”
The Italian rookie is aiming for a win, however he additionally has plans for the constructors’ championship in thoughts, as Mercedes are at the moment six factors away from Ferrari and 17 factors away from Crimson Bull.
“It is a big alternative,” he stated. “I believe it will likely be necessary to complete earlier than Ferrari and get forward of them as a result of clearly the battle may be very shut. We may rating large (towards Crimson Bull)… in order that’s positively the objective.”
“That is why it will likely be necessary tomorrow to set a superb tempo and apply strain, however on the identical time to attempt to obtain one of the best end result attainable in the mean time.[This is]an enormous alternative and that is why we are going to do our greatest as a workforce.”
