Andrea Kimi Antonelli seized pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix, but his top priority is a clean start, not a perfect one. The Mercedes junior driver has a documented history of losing ground off the line, often dropping five or more positions on the first lap this season. With Monaco’s notoriously short run to Turn 1, even tighter than Canada where he recently showed improvement, Antonelli is laser-focused on avoiding a disastrous getaway rather than chasing an ideal launch. He’ll start ahead of champions Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, who collectively boast five Monaco victories. This pole marks an impressive turnaround for Antonelli and Mercedes, as the team struggled significantly on Friday with "three-wheeling" and "jacking." Substantial overnight setup changes clearly paid off, giving Antonelli newfound confidence. Converting this pole will demand flawless execution off the line, setting the tone for his entire race.
Read the full story at RaceFansANTONELLI AIMING FOR ‘A DECENT START, NOT A PERFECT ONE’ FROM POLE POSITION
Andrea Kimi Antonelli seized pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix, but his top priority is a clean start, not a perfect one. The Mercedes junior driver has a documented history of losing ground off the line, often dropping five or more positions on the first lap this season. With Monaco’s notoriously short run to Turn 1, even tighter than Canada where he recently showed improvement, Antonelli is laser-focused on avoiding a disastrous getaway rather than chasing an ideal launch. He’ll start ahead of champions Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, who collectively boast five Monaco victories. This pole marks an impressive turnaround for Antonelli and Mercedes, as the team struggled significantly on Friday with "three-wheeling" and "jacking." Substantial overnight setup changes clearly paid off, giving Antonelli newfound confidence. Converting this pole will demand flawless execution off the line, setting the tone for his entire race.
