BAKU, Azerbaijan — World championship leader Kimi Antonelli crashed out of qualifying on Friday and will start in 16th place for this weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The 20-year-old Mercedes driver clipped the wall in Q1 and picked up a puncture, his first mistake since crashing in final practice in Australia.
He wanted to continue but race engineer Pete Bonnington overruled him, telling him it was a "fairly big job" and to come into the pits.
It was the first time this season that Antonelli, who is romping away at the top of the championship with an 81-point lead over teammate George Russell, failed to reach Q3.
He had already qualified for Q2 but was unable to take part so will line up in 16th on Saturday in Baku.
It is unlikely to deter him. Three weeks ago in Monza he came from 19th to take the chequered flag.
