Kimi Antonelli left ‘confused’ by Bahrain strategy calls as three-stop strategy sees rookie miss out on points| Formula 1®

Kimi Antonelli had an up and down race in Bahrain after starting fifth. He looked on for points but instead found himself battling hard down the order after a series of interesting strategy calls. In the end the teenager came home 11th, but there were definitely some positives to take away.

Antonelli got his elbows out at several points during the race, fighting hard with Carlos Sainz and even pulling off a move on reigning champion Max Verstappen at one point. The pace was clearly there, but Antonelli found himself in too much traffic to make it count.

Having dropped two places at the start, his problems began with the first pit stops, as he was undercut by a number of rivals. More issues then arose when Mercedes played it safe by trying to undercut him in return with an earlier second stop.

Fitting the soft compound tyres, he pushed too hard in traffic, so that when a Safety Car came out a few laps later, Mercedes opted to pit him a third time – dropping him down the order yet again.

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN - APRIL 13: Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy driving the (12) Mercedes AMG Petronas — Antonelli pulled off a move on Verstappen midway through the race in Bahrain

“It’s a bit confusing because obviously it’s the first time I got undercut, and that was fine – I was expecting it,” Antonelli explained.

“But obviously when I put the softs on after the medium, we did two laps and then there was the Safety Car. I felt I could have stayed out – with the Safety Car the tyres would have cooled down anyway and with a bit more free air, it would have been a different story.

“We need to review this with the team, I think on my side I could have probably chosen a bit more wisely the way I was pushing after the pit stop, just to save a bit more tyre.”

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN - APRIL 12: Fourth placed qualifier Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy and Mercedes — Antonelli is continuing to learn fast as he adjusts to life as a fulltime F1 driver

Antonelli was the only driver to three stop bar the Williams of Carlos Sainz, and pitting an extra time cost him hugely. The likes of Esteban Ocon and Max Verstappen benefitted from staying out under the Safety Car – but Mercedes were worried whether Antonelli’s soft tyres would last the distance.

But despite those strategic hiccups, Antonelli can take plenty away from Bahrain – as he continues to improve across the board, from his one-lap pace to his race management and overtaking prowess.

“The pace is improving especially qualifying. Also, the racing on track is getting much, much better. I’m getting more comfortable with making overtakes and driving around other cars so that is for sure a positive. I will try in Jeddah to do an even better qualifying and do a good race from there.”