{"id":1064,"date":"2026-08-21T15:32:51","date_gmt":"2026-08-21T18:32:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/?p=1064"},"modified":"2026-08-21T15:32:52","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T18:32:52","slug":"andrea-kimi-antonelli-details-pace-struggles-in-zandvoort-sprint-qualifying-very-difficult","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/andrea-kimi-antonelli-details-pace-struggles-in-zandvoort-sprint-qualifying-very-difficult\/","title":{"rendered":"Antonelli details pace struggles in Zandvoort Sprint qualifying: &#8220;Very difficult&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key takeaways<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Downforce loss:<\/strong> Andrea Kimi Antonelli suffered significant floor damage after running wide into the gravel at Turn 13 in SQ1, resulting in a loss of roughly 25 downforce points.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Low-speed struggles:<\/strong> The Italian revealed he struggled with stability and confidence in low-speed sections throughout Sprint Qualifying.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Team effort:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/mercedes-praises-solid-george-russell-after-dutch-gp-sprint-pole-reveals-kimi-antonelli-floor-damage\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mercedes<\/a> made quick repairs in the garage, allowing Antonelli to recover and secure 5th place on the grid, just 0.227s behind pole-sitter <a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/george-russell-edges-lando-norris-to-capture-dutch-gp-sprint-pole\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">George Russell<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli was forced to manage a compromised car during Friday&#8217;s Sprint Qualifying for the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/\">Formula 1<\/a> Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Zandvoort. The Mercedes driver ran wide into the gravel during the opening minutes of SQ1, causing severe floor damage and a significant drop in aerodynamic efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The off-track moment at Turn 13 poked holes in the W17&#8217;s floor. Although the Mercedes garage worked frantically between qualifying segments to patch up the component, Antonelli admitted the loss in downforce hindered his performance, particularly through Zandvoort&#8217;s slower corners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Speaking to <em>Sky Sports<\/em> following the session, the Italian detailed the impact of the early incident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;[There was] major damage, I had a few holes in the floor. When I came back, they initially told me it was a loss of 25 [downforce] points. They tried to repair as much as possible, but the damage was definitely still there. I struggled a lot in low-speed [corners],&#8221; Antonelli explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/f1-2026-paises-baixos-treino-livre-mercedes-kimi-antonelli-02-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"F1 2026, PAISES BAIXOS, TREINO LIVRE, MERCEDES, KIMI ANTONELLI\" class=\"wp-image-1020312359\" srcset=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/f1-2026-paises-baixos-treino-livre-mercedes-kimi-antonelli-02-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/f1-2026-paises-baixos-treino-livre-mercedes-kimi-antonelli-02-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/f1-2026-paises-baixos-treino-livre-mercedes-kimi-antonelli-02-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/f1-2026-paises-baixos-treino-livre-mercedes-kimi-antonelli-02-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/f1-2026-paises-baixos-treino-livre-mercedes-kimi-antonelli-02-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/f1-2026-paises-baixos-treino-livre-mercedes-kimi-antonelli-02-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/f1-2026-paises-baixos-treino-livre-mercedes-kimi-antonelli-02.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Antonelli struggled in Sprint Qualifying (Photo: F1)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;That was it. On the first lap, entry speed into the final corner was a bit too high, I lost the rear and went through the gravel, basically that was it. Obviously, it wasn&#8217;t easy to build back confidence. Still, I&#8217;m reasonably close. We have another shot tomorrow,&#8221; he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite the setback, Antonelli managed to place his Mercedes in 5th position for Saturday&#8217;s Sprint race, finishing behind <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/george-russell-edges-lando-norris-to-capture-dutch-gp-sprint-pole\/\">Russell<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/lando-norris-encouraged-by-zandvoort-sprint-pace-performance-similar-to-budapest\/\">Lando Norris<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/charles-leclerc-hails-best-lap-of-the-year-after-taking-3rd-on-dutch-gp-sprint-grid\/\">Charles Leclerc<\/a>, and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/oscar-piastri-admits-disappointment-in-zandvoort-sprint-qualifying-could-have-been-on-pole\/\">Oscar Piastri<\/a>. He remains focused on extracting maximum points before the team resets the car&#8217;s setup for main Qualifying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;We&#8217;ll try to execute the best race we can. The front group is very close, so overtaking won&#8217;t be easy, but we&#8217;ll try to give our best even with the damage. Then, from qualifying onwards, we&#8217;ll adjust the car and try again,&#8221; he concluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Formula 1 action continues at Zandvoort with Saturday&#8217;s Sprint race, followed by main Qualifying for the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix. <strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/\">GRANDE PR\u00caMIO<\/a><\/strong> covers all track activities live from Zandvoort with reporter Leonid Kliuev. Follow all paddock updates on our <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/news\/\">news page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sprint Qualifying Top 5 Results: Dutch Grand Prix 2026<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><td><strong>Pos<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Driver<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Team<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Time<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Gap<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>1<\/strong><\/td><td>George Russell<\/td><td>Mercedes<\/td><td>1:11.567<\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>2<\/strong><\/td><td>Lando Norris<\/td><td>McLaren<\/td><td>1:11.608<\/td><td>+0.041s<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>3<\/strong><\/td><td>Charles Leclerc<\/td><td>Ferrari<\/td><td>1:11.622<\/td><td>+0.055s<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>4<\/strong><\/td><td>Oscar Piastri<\/td><td>McLaren<\/td><td>1:11.666<\/td><td>+0.099s<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>5<\/strong><\/td><td>Andrea Kimi Antonelli<\/td><td>Mercedes<\/td><td>1:11.794<\/td><td>+0.227s<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Session schedule: Dutch Grand Prix 2026<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><td><strong>Session<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Local time (CEST)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>UTC<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Sprint Race<\/strong><\/td><td>Saturday, August 22 \u2013 12:00<\/td><td>10:00<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Qualifying<\/strong><\/td><td>Saturday, August 22 \u2013 16:00<\/td><td>14:00<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Race<\/strong><\/td><td>Sunday, August 23 \u2013 15:00<\/td><td>13:00<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Broadcast guide: Where to watch in the United States<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>United States (Eastern Time \/ ET)<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Broadcaster:<\/strong> Apple TV<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sprint Race:<\/strong> Saturday, August 22 \u2013 06:00 ET<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Qualifying:<\/strong> Saturday, August 22 \u2013 10:00 ET<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Race:<\/strong> Sunday, August 23 \u2013 09:00 ET<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently asked questions (FAQ)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1. Where will Andrea Kimi Antonelli start the Dutch GP Sprint race?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Andrea Kimi Antonelli will start 5th on the grid for Saturday&#8217;s Sprint race at Circuit Zandvoort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>2. What caused Antonelli&#8217;s car damage in SQ1?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Antonelli entered the final corner too fast during SQ1, losing the rear end of his Mercedes W17 and running wide into the gravel trap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>3. Did Toto Wolff comment on Antonelli&#8217;s incident?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/mercedes-praises-solid-george-russell-after-dutch-gp-sprint-pole-reveals-kimi-antonelli-floor-damage\/\">Toto Wolff confirmed the initial loss of 20 to 25 downforce points<\/a>, noting that team mechanics performed emergency repairs during the session.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Andrea Kimi Antonelli revealed that floor damage from an early SQ1 gravel excursion cost him 25 downforce points, leaving him 5th in Dutch GP Sprint Qualifying.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1020312392,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"42wp_featured_image_caption":"Antonelli foi o quinto na classifica\u00e7\u00e3o sprint em Zandvoort","42wp_featured_image_credits":"Mercedes","42wp_featured_video":"","42wp_featured_image_hidden":false,"42wp_authors_list":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[16],"42wp_author":[126],"class_list":["post-1064","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-f1","tag-mercedes","42wp_author-julia-palomares-aro"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1064","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1064"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1064\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1065,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1064\/revisions\/1065"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1020312392"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1064"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1064"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1064"},{"taxonomy":"42wp_author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/42wp_author?post=1064"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}