News summary
- Antonelli called Bortoleto a “complete idiot” after encountering the Audi driver during a fast lap in FP2 at Monza.
- The Mercedes driver was running at the front of the session and eventually finished 3rd, behind George Russell and Charles Leclerc.
- Bortoleto ended FP2 in 15th, while Antonelli remains set to start the Italian GP from the back of the grid because of a power-unit penalty.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli lost his patience with Gabriel Bortoleto during FP2 for the Italian GP at Monza on Friday.
The Mercedes driver was pushing on a fast lap when he came across Bortoleto, who was significantly slower ahead of him. Antonelli reacted immediately over the team radio.
“What an idiot. What a complete idiot!” the Italian complained.
The exchange came during a session in which Antonelli remained competitive despite already knowing that he will start Sunday’s race from the back of the grid following a power-unit change.
Antonelli ultimately finished FP2 in 3rd, recording a 1:22.700. George Russell led the session for Mercedes with a 1:22.559, while Charles Leclerc put Ferrari in 2nd, just 0.120s behind the Briton.
Bortoleto, meanwhile, ended the session in 15th with a 1:23.776. The Audi driver had shown stronger pace in FP1, when he finished 8th.
The incident added a moment of tension to a busy FP2 at Monza, where teams were also dealing with high track temperatures and the challenge of managing energy deployment around the high-speed circuit.
Antonelli’s reaction was particularly notable given that he had already spoken about approaching his home Grand Prix with an aggressive mindset despite his grid penalty. The 20-year-old said ahead of the weekend that he intended to attack as much as possible while still using his head during the race.
With Mercedes showing strong one-lap pace in both Friday sessions, Antonelli will now have to turn that performance into a recovery drive on Sunday, starting from the rear of the field.
FAQ
Why was Antonelli angry with Bortoleto?
Antonelli encountered Bortoleto while completing a fast lap during FP2 and felt the Audi driver was in his way, prompting the angry team-radio reaction.
Where did Antonelli finish FP2?
Antonelli finished 3rd, with a 1:22.700, behind teammate George Russell and Charles Leclerc.
Why will Antonelli start the Italian GP from the back?
Mercedes installed another power-unit component beyond the permitted allocation, triggering a grid penalty that sends Antonelli to the back of the starting grid.
