Antonelli gives Russell a few headaches: 'Confidence grows each weekend'

08:41, 04 May

byNorberto Mujica

Despite the outcome of the F1 Sprint race, Andrea Kimi Antonelli has managed to get on top of his qualifying woes, at least enough to beat George Russell soundly across both fast lap dependant sessions this weekend. It appears as though the Briton should start looking over his shoulder from now on.

It wasn't pole, though, on Saturday's qualifying session for the Miami Grand Prix for the Italian, whom by his words, seems to suggest said result may have been within reach.

Antonelli starts giving Russell a few headaches

"It was quite OK [his last Q3 lap]. I struggled a little bit during the qualifying. I felt like I didn't have such a clean run as yesterday’s Sprint Quali. I struggled more today to put the tyre in the right window and to extract the best out of it during the whole lap. I think the last lap was a bit better on that side, still not amazing, but really happy with the result," said Antonelli to media after the qualifying session.

Where Antonelli might have gotten pole again, in the end it was P3, whilst his more experienced teammate, and a driver known for being one of the best qualifiers on the grid, could only manage P5. An encouraging result indeed, that Antonelli expects to build on.

"Every weekend is learning and experience and more confidence with the car as well. So really, really happy with how every weekend I'm more able to play a lot more with the car and trying to explore the limit as well. So far this weekend I felt really good in the car. So that's definitely a positive. And hopefully tomorrow we can do a good race."