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 race with a comfortable points lead over his Mercedes teammate George Russell, managed to climb from a 16th‑place start—after a qualifying crash—to finish in fifth place. Despite the solid recovery, his advantage over Russell narrowed to 66 points after the Brit secured the win.
Antonelli has been a model of consistency throughout the season, building a sizable lead at the top of the standings with a series of strong finishes. However, the Baku weekend proved challenging.
Technical problems with his car forced him to miss a large portion of the practice sessions, leaving him with limited time to fine‑tune the setup for the high‑speed, narrow street layout. "I was driving a bit like my grandmother today, just damage‑save mode," Antonelli explained. "I didn’t take any risks. Before I attempted a move, I made sure I could actually pull it off." The pressure on Antonelli was high.
Earlier in September, he had produced a spectacular drive at his home race in Monza, climbing from 19th on the grid to claim victory. Fans and pundits expected a similar charge in Baku, but the circumstances were markedly different. "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 an all‑out attack.
But early on I realised that overtaking was far tougher with a train of cars all in Overtake Mode, and I didn’t have the same speed as before, so my mindset changed quickly." The race itself was eventful. After the start, Antonelli dropped a position and spent the first 17 laps fighting his way back into the top ten. He capitalized on mistakes made by drivers ahead and gradually improved his position.
A critical moment came during the first of two rolling restarts after a Safety Car period, when a three‑car crash eliminated several competitors. Antonelli avoided the incident and continued, even after making contact with Haas driver Oliver Bearman, which caused significant damage to the left side of his car. "After the restart, I had big floor damage. My whole left side was gone with the contact," he recounted.
"The car was very sketchy to drive, but I still tried to get to P4. In the end, it was one of those days where you have to be happy with P5.
Seeing so many people make mistakes, I pulled back a little and just took advantage of everyone else's errors to move forward." Despite the setbacks, Antonelli’s performance remained respectable given the circumstances. He managed to finish fifth, securing valuable points and keeping his championship campaign on track. The next race on the calendar is the Bahrain Grand Prix, which this year will be staged in Malaysia at the Sepang International Circuit due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Antonelli will have only a short break before heading back to the track for the second leg of the triple‑header. George Russell, meanwhile, delivered his most complete weekend since the season opener in Australia. The Mercedes driver claimed victory in Baku, a win that would have been even more dominant had it not been for the interruptions caused by the Safety Car.
Russell’s strong performance further intensified the championship battle, although he is expected to incur a grid penalty later in the season for an engine change, which could play to Antonelli’s advantage. Looking ahead, Antonelli remains a heavy favourite for the title.
He expressed optimism despite the Baku disappointment, noting the importance of staying positive and learning from the experience. "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 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia will mark Formula 1’s return to the region for the first time since 2017.
Fans can watch live coverage on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available through NOW without a long‑term contract. As the championship progresses, the battle between Antonelli and Russell promises to deliver more drama, especially as technical regulations, engine penalties, and track characteristics continue to shape the season’s narrative. Antonelli’s candid admission of driving conservatively in Baku highlights the fine line young drivers must walk between aggression and caution, a balance that will be crucial as they chase the ultimate prize in motorsport.