George Russell said he is ready to capitalise on Kimi Antonelli’s shock qualifying crash by winning from pole position in Azerbaijan on Saturday and ignite his world title comeback.
Antonelli, who has reigned supreme so far this season – winning eight of the 14 rounds staged to secure an 81-point lead – displayed the first dent in his championship armour when he misjudged the opening corner and hit the wall in Baku.
The Q1 accident meant Antonelli could play no further part to leave him 16th on the grid.
Russell had all but written off his championship chances but Antonelli’s demise, coupled with his impressive pole lap – the British driver was nearly nine tenths quicker than anyone else – will provide him with a glimmer of hope that the fight remains on.
“I can’t recall many mistakes Kimi has made this season,” said Russell after taking his first pole since the Austrian Grand Prix in June – the scene of his last victory, too.
“He has been flawless. But in every championship campaign, even for the winners, there are mistakes along the way.
“On my side, I keep on believing, and I will keep on fighting until it is not possible anymore. I don’t feel any pressure. I just feel excitement every time I jump in the car purely because I feel more confident in myself.
“When that confidence starts to build it is an upwards cycle. But when you are on the backfoot, and you don’t have that confidence and you push the limits more, that’s when mistakes happen. We are in a great place to go for the win, but this is Baku and anything can happen.”
Antonelli discovered Russell’s closing remark to his detriment on Friday. The 20-year-old had not looked like a man rattled by the expectation of closing out his maiden title and becoming the youngest Formula One world champion.
But qualifying on this unique street track provided the first sign he could yet buckle under the pressure.
Antonelli was playing catch-up after being sidelined for half of Thursday’s practice sessions on the Caspian Sea with a hydraulic failure. And in the opening phase of qualifying he thudded the barrier as he entered the first turn, sustaining terminal damage to his Mercedes.
Antonelli attempted to limp back to the pits, with his front-left tyre dangling off his Mercedes, but he was instructed by race engineer Peter Bonnington to park his stricken machine.
“Let me try, mate,” he pleaded over the radio. “Let me try to get back.”
“We just better park up, mate,” said Bonnington. “We’re not going to be able to fix that.”
Antonelli replied: “I’m sorry guys. My god, f***!”
The Italian was left to watch the remainder of qualifying as an observer and stew on his error.
“It is a good way to come back to earth, and to remind myself that I need to be on top of it every time because otherwise I make these mistakes, and a very stupid one at that,” said a downbeat Antonelli.
However, all is not lost for the Mercedes star. Unlike a week ago in Madrid, overtaking is more than possible here. And Antonelli will be able to draw confidence from his lung-busting comeback win from 19th in Monza earlier this month.
Russell though will surely see Saturday’s fixture – brought forward by 24 hours due to Azerbaijan’s national Remembrance Day – as a major chance to take only his third win of the season and reel Antonelli back in.
“I can’t discount Kimi,” continued Russell. He added with a wry smile: “He started 19th in Monza and now he is 16th so he should be leading by a few laps earlier this time.”
Russell will be joined on the front row by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc with Oscar Piastri third for McLaren. Isack Hadjar lines up from fourth ahead of Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton. Max Verstappen qualified only eighth.
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