At the end of Friday’s sessions at the Japanese Grand Prix, Andrea Kimi Antonelli summed up the first results on the Suzuka track with enthusiasm.
For our young Andrea Kimi Antonelli, a rookie who brought the Tricolor back to the track and occupied the seat on which Lewis Hamilton’s name was once affixed, this weekend’s Suzuka event was another opportunity to be able to learn the handling of the W15. “It’s my first time at Suzuka and it’s a great track to drive on!” began Antonelli when interviewed by the media end of the day. “I had fun and look forward to gaining more and more confidence as the weekend progresses.”
The Bolognese closed the first free practice session placing himself with the ninth time in 1:29.284; as for the second free practice session – interrupted by several red flags caused first by Jack Doohan’s strong impact in Turn 1, then by Fernando Alonso’s off-track and lastly, by the grass fire along the track – the Italian was unable to improve his time stopping in 16th position.
The Mercedes number 12 then summed up the first sessions of the Japan event, “FP1 was a solid session for us and I managed to get some decent laps in. FP2 was much more eventful and a bit chaotic for me. I couldn’t get a clean lap and I didn’t get the most out of the car in the first sector. We will work on this overnight, analyze the data and come back stronger tomorrow “.
“There are definitely promising signs for us. George did a good job all day and was consistently close to the top positions. The balance of the car is also good and I know I can achieve even more. I’m looking forward to getting back on track in FP3 and using the knowledge gained for qualifying,,” concluded Kimi Antonelli looking at the glass half full and knowing that Mercedes has what it takes to be among the teams that will be fighting for podium positions in Suzuka. Should the mission succeed, it would be the third consecutive podium in three races for the Silver Arrows.
Photo: Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team.
