Formula 1 started the weekend at Suzuka with balance at the top, and Kimi Antonelli made it clear that the competition promises to be intense. Even satisfied with Mercedes’ performance, the Italian highlighted McLaren’s strength after Friday.
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The driver believes there is still room for improvement before qualifying, especially on a circuit where starting ahead can be decisive. At Suzuka, overtaking is traditionally difficult, which increases the importance of Saturday’s result.
Antonelli positively evaluated the work done in free practice. “We had a decent Friday here at Suzuka. We completed the entire program and managed to collect data with all three compounds,” he stated.
Despite this, the young driver acknowledges that the scenario is far from settled. “We are satisfied with what we did, but we still have work ahead. McLaren seems very fast, and other teams are also close,” he added.
The driver also highlighted challenges faced throughout the day, mainly related to track conditions. According to him, the car’s behavior was impacted by variable wind and lower tire temperatures.
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“The car is good, but with the wind conditions and colder tires, it was difficult to put together ideal laps,” he explained. Because of this, the team’s focus is now on improving the car’s overall balance before qualifying.
Antonelli believes this adjustment could be decisive for fighting for pole position. “If we can improve, we can be in the fight for pole on Saturday, and that can be fundamental here,” he said.
Mercedes also showed good performance in race pace, but the fierce competition in the front of the grid indicates an open weekend. For the Italian, the priority is to maximize each session and arrive strong in the fight for pole.
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