World championship frontrunner Kimi Antonelli admitted that his performance at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix felt as cautious as "driving like his grandmother" because he lacked confidence on the demanding Baku City Circuit. The 20‑year‑old Italian, who entered the weekend as the points leader, managed to climb from a 16th‑place start – a position forced on him after a qualifying crash – to finish fifth in the race. Despite the solid recovery, his lead over Mercedes teammate George Russell shrank to 66 points after the Briton secured the victory.
Antonelli has built an impressive points cushion through a blend of consistency and speed, yet the Baku weekend proved challenging. Technical problems limited his time in practice, meaning he missed a substantial portion of track time and entered the race without the rhythm he had cultivated in earlier events. "I was driving a bit like my grandmother today, just damage‑save mode," he explained after the finish.
"I wasn’t taking any risks. Before I attempted a move, I made sure I could actually pull it off." The expectations on Antonelli were high after his dramatic win at his home race in Monza, where he rose from 19th on the grid to claim victory in September. In Baku, however, his progress was more measured.
"If I had the same pace as at Monza or in previous races, the outcome would have been different," he said. "It would have been a full‑on attack.
But early on I realised that overtaking was far tougher with a train of cars all in overtaking mode, and I didn’t have the same pace as before, so my mindset changed quickly." During the race, Antonelli dropped a position at the start and spent the first 17 laps battling his way back into the top ten. He capitalised on mistakes made by drivers ahead and gradually built momentum.
A critical moment arrived after a safety‑car period that led to a rolling restart; a three‑car incident eliminated several rivals, and Antonelli narrowly avoided a collision that could have ended his race. He also endured contact with Haas driver Oliver Bearman, which left his car with significant floor damage on the left side. "After the restart, I had big floor damage. My whole left side was gone with the contact," Antonelli recounted.
"The car was very sketchy to drive, but I still tried to push for P4. In the end, it was one of those days where you have to be happy with P5.
Seeing so many people making mistakes, I pulled back a little and simply took advantage of their errors to move forward." The race also highlighted the stark contrast between Antonelli’s weekend and Russell’s. The Mercedes driver delivered his most complete performance since the season‑opening Australian Grand Prix, seizing a win that would have been even more dominant without the intermittent safety‑car periods. Russell’s confidence and pace underscored the pressure Antonelli faces to maintain his championship lead.
Looking ahead, Antonelli does not have to wait long for another opportunity to showcase his talent. The next round of the season is a triple‑header finale, with the Bahrain Grand Prix scheduled to take place in Malaysia due to the ongoing Middle East conflict. This unusual venue change adds another layer of intrigue to the championship battle.
Despite the setback in Baku, Antonelli remains a strong favourite for the title. Russell is expected to incur a grid penalty later in the season after changing his power unit, which could further tilt the championship in Antonelli’s direction.
The Italian champion kept a positive outlook when speaking to Sky Sports F1 after the race. "It’s exciting," he said. "George had an incredible weekend, he drove brilliantly and had a lot of confidence. This weekend was by far my worst performance of the year.
I wasn’t really present, especially with what happened early on." Formula 1’s return to Malaysia marks the first time the sport has visited the country since 2017, with the Bahrain Grand Prix being staged at the Sepang International Circuit. Fans can follow the live coverage on Sky Sports F1, and the event will be streamed via NOW without a long‑term contract, allowing viewers to cancel at any time. Antonelli’s candid reflections on his cautious Baku drive provide a glimpse into the mental challenges drivers face when confidence wanes, and they set the stage for a compelling conclusion to a season that has already delivered drama, technical intrigue, and fierce competition.