What the data from Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes reveals about his departure in the Alboreto corner and how the accident should be assessed on that basis
The accident involving Mercedes Friday driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli is the topic of the day at the opening round of the 2024 Italian Grand Prix in Monza. The entire paddock is asking itself: How could it have happened in the Alboreto corner (formerly Parabolica)? The telemetry data from the Mercedes W15 now sheds light on this.
Of course, Antonelli’s second flying lap, which ended for him in the tire stacks, is particularly interesting. And on this lap he was already virtually ahead compared to his first lap, which he had completed in 1:23.955 minutes – as the fastest at the time.
It is not unusual for a driver to improve on his second attempt. What is remarkable, however, is how much Antonelli improved. Because from the middle sector onwards, he put on a lot of pressure.
The Mercedes data shows: Antonelli came through the second Lesmo corner at 184 km/h, seven km/h faster than Red Bull driver Max Verstappen on his best lap, which was clocked at 1:21.676 minutes.
It was a similar story in the Ascari chicane: Antonelli swept through the famous passage at 190 km/h, Verstappen at just 176 km/h on his fastest attempt. And Verstappen was not alone with this speed: Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes (177 km/h), Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari (178) and Lando Norris in the McLaren (179) were also considerably slower than Antonelli.
The high speed in the middle sector takes its toll
Meaning: All the other Formula 1 drivers were slower than Antonelli in the sections mentioned. And his hard pace had consequences: The rear tires in particular overheated, as a Mercedes analysis revealed. When Antonelli arrived at the Alboreto corner, there was practically no grip left on the rear axle. And that’s why his car spun off so abruptly at the entrance to the corner.
“The car couldn’t cope with what he did,” says Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. “I suspect it just caught him out. Everyone had difficulties with the temperatures here, especially with the rear wheels and in the Ascari chicane and at this speed. That’s why his rear end broke off.”
The incident can certainly be attributed to the fact that Antonelli has significantly less experience with the Pirelli tires than the Formula 1 regulars. This explains why he drove much more aggressively than his rivals, who were more restrained at the exit of Lesmo 2 and in the Ascari chicane
Wolff, however, is not dissatisfied with what happened up to the departure: “What we saw in those one and a half laps was simply amazing. And we’d rather have to slow him down than give him a leg up!”
What Antonelli himself says about the accident
Antonelli himself was initially silent on the accident. Mercedes shielded the young rider so that he could collect himself in peace. The team later sent out a short statement from Antonelli.
It reads: “What a day! I have my first training session behind me. Unfortunately, it ended pretty quickly because of the crash.”
The accident was “simply a mistake on my part”, Antonelli emphasized. “I was simply pushing too hard for these conditions and should have just built up my attempt more steadily. But I definitely learned a lesson for the next time.”
He is “still very grateful” to Mercedes for the opportunity and is “really sorry that I caused [the team] so much work,” Antonelli continues. “I’m not feeling super good at the moment. But I’m going to go back now and try to rest and focus on the rest of the weekend.”
Antonelli’s main focus this weekend is on Formula 2, where he is one of the regular drivers. With four events to go, he is in seventh place overall after two race wins
