Key takeaways
- Turn 1 error: World Championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli admitted that a Turn 1 mistake on his final Q3 lap cost him crucial tenths during qualifying for the Dutch Grand Prix.
- Missed pole opportunity: The Mercedes driver expressed frustration after qualifying 3rd, 0.133s behind pole-sitter Lando Norris, believing he had a realistic chance to secure top spot on the grid.
- Late sector recovery: Despite dropping two-tenths in the opening sector, Antonelli managed to recover time through the remainder of the lap to stay within 0.031s of teammate George Russell.
Despite qualifying on the second row for the Dutch Grand Prix, Andrea Kimi Antonelli expressed frustration with his personal execution in Saturday’s qualifying session at Circuit Zandvoort. The Mercedes driver set a best time of 1:11.296 in Q3, finishing 0.133 seconds behind pole-sitter Lando Norris.
Speaking after stepping out of the car, the championship leader admitted that he felt on the back foot throughout the afternoon and singled out a mistake on his final flying lap as the decisive factor.
“It was a difficult session for me overall. I felt like I was on the back foot the whole time, and on the last lap I made a mistake in Turn 1. Because of that, I lost a few tenths. It was my error,” Antonelli acknowledged.
“It’s a shame, because we had a good chance to take pole today,” the Italian continued. “In Q3, I thought we had a opportunity to fight for it, but when I started that final lap, I saw I was two-tenths down in the first sector and thought, ‘This is going to be tough.’ I managed to recover over the rest of the lap, so it’s a pity, but everything is still to play for tomorrow.”
Antonelli will start Sunday’s Grand Prix from 3rd position, directly behind Norris and Mercedes teammate George Russell.
Formula 1 action continues at Zandvoort on Sunday for the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix. GRANDE PRÊMIO covers all track activities live from Zandvoort with reporter Leonid Kliuev. Follow all paddock updates on our news page.
Session schedule: Dutch Grand Prix 2026
| Session | Local time (CEST) | UTC |
| Race | Sunday, August 23 – 15:00 | 13:00 |
Broadcast guide: Where to watch in the United States
- United States (Eastern Time / ET)
- Broadcaster: Apple TV
- Race: Sunday, August 23 – 09:00 ET
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. Where did Andrea Kimi Antonelli qualify for the Dutch Grand Prix?
Antonelli qualified 3rd on the grid with a lap time of 1:11.296.
2. What mistake did Antonelli make during Q3?
The Italian driver locked up and ran wide in Turn 1 on his final Q3 lap, losing roughly two-tenths of a second in Sector 1.
3. What is Antonelli’s lead in the World Championship following Saturday’s Sprint?
Antonelli leads Lewis Hamilton by 53 points in the Drivers’ Standings heading into Sunday’s Grand Prix.
