Antonelli admits P2 was ‘the maximum’ as Verstappen proves too quick for Mercedes at Bahrain GP in Malaysia

Sepang, Malaysia - Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team's Kimi Antonelli declared that a second-place finish was the best possible outcome at the Formula 1 (F1) Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix (GP) held at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) on October 4. Race victor Max Verstappen outpaced the Mercedes driver, securing his season-opening title for Red Bull Racing.

Antonelli attributed the team's struggles to Red Bull's superior pace, as well as the challenging track surface and high temperatures experienced at the Malaysian circuit. He expressed confidence that the team would gain a better understanding of the new package during the upcoming Singapore GP (Oct 9-11). Mercedes had introduced a revised front wing and several other components to the Canadian GP in May, hoping to enhance their performance against competitors.

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton secured third place on the podium after initially starting on soft tyres, but he persisted during the race as conditions improved. Hamilton credited the team's strategic decisions and pit stops for their successful return to the podium. As a result, Antonelli remains at the top of the drivers' standings with 320 points, followed by teammate George Russell (236 points) and Hamilton (214 points).