How one lap cost Leclerc a shot at COTA victory

Kimi Antonelli drove the race of a champion one week too early.

Antonelli’s first victory since Madrid in September was as mature and as technically astute a drive as they come. He was clinical off the line, turning pole into the lead; he managed the gap to his pursuers during the opening laps; and then he slow-burned his tyres over two long stints to get the most out of the Pirelli rubber without risking runaway degradation.

It was the sort of performance that belied his inexperience in Formula 1 – and underlined why he has one hand and four fingers on the championship trophy, which he’ll have a second and better chance to take home in Mexico this weekend.