World championship frontrunner Kimi Antonelli confessed that his performance at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix felt as tentative as "driving like his grandmother," a sentiment he attributed to a lack of confidence on the demanding Baku City Circuit. Despite starting from 16th on the grid after a qualifying mishap, Antonelli managed a respectable climb to finish fifth, though his lead over Mercedes teammate George Russell narrowed to 66 points after the Brit secured the win.
The 20‑year‑old Italian has built an impressive points cushion through consistent podiums and strong racecraft, yet Baku proved a tougher challenge. Technical gremlins forced him to miss a substantial portion of practice, leaving him without the usual data to fine‑tune his setup.
"I was driving a bit like my grandmother today, just damage‑save mode," Antonelli explained. "I wasn't taking any risks. Before I attempted a move, I made sure I could actually pull it off." Expectations were high for Antonelli, especially after his dramatic victory at his home race in Monza, where he surged from 19th on the grid to claim first place in September. In Baku, however, his progress was more measured.
"If I had the same pace as at Monza or in previous races, things would have been different," he said. "It would have been a full‑on attack. But early on I realized overtaking was far more difficult with a train of cars all in overtaking mode, and I didn't have the same speed I had previously, so my mindset shifted quickly." The race weekend was also marked by controversy, with Alpine condemning online abuse after Franco Colapinto's three‑car collision involving Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris.
Meanwhile, George Russell's dominant victory sparked discussion about whether the Mercedes driver was truly back to his best after a "Grand Slam" performance in Baku, which also cut Antonelli's championship lead. During the race, Antonelli lost a position at the start and spent the first 17 laps battling his way back into the top ten. He capitalised on mistakes from drivers ahead, gradually climbing the order.
A crucial moment came after the first of two rolling restarts following a safety‑car period; Antonelli avoided a three‑car pile‑up that eliminated several competitors, though he did sustain contact with Oliver Bearman's Haas. "After the restart, I had big floor damage.
My whole left side was gone with the contact," he recounted. "The car became 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 make mistakes, you kind of pull back a little because I just took advantage of everyone else's errors and moved forward." Antonelli's next opportunity to make up ground arrives quickly, as the calendar moves to a triple‑header weekend with the Bahrain Grand Prix scheduled to take place in Malaysia due to ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Russell, who delivered his most complete weekend since the season‑opening race in Australia, secured a victory that would have been even more dominant without the safety‑car interruptions.
Looking ahead, Antonelli remains the clear favourite for the championship, particularly because Russell faces a potential grid penalty for an engine change later in the season. Antonelli expressed optimism despite the setback in Baku. "It's exciting," he told Sky Sports F1.
"George has done an incredible weekend, he's driven incredibly. He had a lot of confidence.
This weekend was my worst of the year by far in terms of performance. I wasn't there, I wasn't really present, especially with what happened so early on." The upcoming race in Malaysia will mark Formula 1's return to the region for the first time since 2017, with the Bahrain Grand Prix being staged at the Sepang International Circuit. Fans can watch live coverage starting Friday morning on Sky Sports F1, with streaming options available through NOW without a long‑term contract.
Antonelli will aim to rebound from his cautious Baku run, hoping to regain the aggressive edge that propelled him to the top of the standings earlier in the season.