Motorsport photoBen VinelSun, November 30, 2025 at 7:40 PM UTC·7 min readAndrea Kimi Antonelli has explained the mistake that cost him fourth place in Formula 1’s Qatar Grand Prix – to title contender Lando Norris’ benefit.
Antonelli was chasing Carlos Sainz for the final podium spot when he lost control of his Mercedes on the penultimate lap of the race. Norris snatched fourth place away, crucially scoring two more points, which earned the Mercedes rookie criticism from Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko and Max Verstappen’s race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase.
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“With the hard [tyre] I was pushing quite a lot, and eventually I was getting to DRS [behind Sainz],” Antonelli related. “But in [Turn 9] I had a massive moment and almost crashed, so then I went off track and lost the place to Lando, which was very annoying.”
Asked if this was his error or car-related, the Italian youngster said: “I need to check.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“I went in a bit quicker than the lap before – obviously with dirty air the car is more unpredictable because you have less downforce, and the tyres overheat more, but I went in a bit quicker and just lost the rear all of a sudden.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes“I didn't expect it, and obviously at such a high speed I went off track, and then the next corner picking up all the dirt I had a massive moment again and went off track again, so I just need to look into detail, but it was pretty annoying.”
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAntonelli added he otherwise would have ‘comfortably’ kept Norris behind – “in dirty air, he couldn’t get past” – but likely had no real shot at the podium.
“Very difficult,” he reckoned. “We were gaining quite a lot on Carlos, and we were quite a bit stronger in the last sector, so definitely with two laps to go we would have had DRS in that lap, and then probably would have had a shot in the last lap, but at the end it didn't happen because I went off track and just didn't have the chance.”
Photos from Qatar GP - Race
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMark Thompson / Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCharles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, FerrariSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Adrian Newey, Managing Technical Partner of Aston Martin F1 Team
Adrian Newey, Managing Technical Partner of Aston Martin F1 TeamZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls TeamSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, FerrariMark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, MercedesGuido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
The Aston Martin F1 Team AMR25 gets cooled
The Aston Martin F1 Team AMR25 gets cooledPeter Fox / Getty Images
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls TeamRudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMax Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMark Thompson / Getty Images
David Beckham
David BeckhamClive Mason / Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, FerrariNoushad Thekkayil / NurPhoto via Getty Images
Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor of Alpine F1
Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor of Alpine F1Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Jessica Alba
Jessica AlbaAndrej Isakovic / AFP via Getty Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 TeamLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Carlos Sainz, WilliamsPeter Fox / Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLarenDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMaya Jama
Maya JamaKym Illman / Getty Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 TeamLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Williams mechanics during pit stop practice
Williams mechanics during pit stop practicePeter Fox / Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenJayce Illman / Getty Images
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, AlpineZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, AlpineClive Mason / Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Nico Hulkenberg, SauberSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLarenLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLarenLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg, SauberSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg, SauberSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg, SauberSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Adrian Newey, Managing Technical Partner of Aston Martin F1 Team
Adrian Newey, Managing Technical Partner of Aston Martin F1 TeamMark Thompson / Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNico Hulkenberg, Sauber crash
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber crashRudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Drivers pit during the safety car
Drivers pit during the safety carAltaf Qadri / POOL / AFP via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, FerrariSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMark Thompson / Getty Images
David Beckham
David BeckhamMark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenMark Thompson / Getty Images
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Carlos Sainz, WilliamsRudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenMahmud Hams / AFP via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCharles Leclerc, Ferrari, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 TeamClive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLarenClive Mason / Getty Images
A Williams team member
A Williams team memberPeter Fox / Getty Images
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls TeamZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, MercedesClive Mason / Getty Images
Andrea Stella, McLaren
Andrea Stella, McLarenMark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenAndrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMax Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingClive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMark Thompson / Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Carlos Sainz, WilliamsPeter Fox / Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingSteven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMax Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMario Renzi - Formula 1 - Getty Images
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Carlos Sainz, WilliamsDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMario Renzi - Formula 1 - Getty Images
Hannah Schmitz, Principal Strategy Engineer of Oracle Red Bull Racing collects the Constructors trophy on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Qatar
Hannah Schmitz, Principal Strategy Engineer of Oracle Red Bull Racing collects the Constructors trophy on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of QatarLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Hannah Schmitz, Principal Strategy Engineer of Oracle Red Bull Racing collects the Constructors trophy on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Qatar
Hannah Schmitz, Principal Strategy Engineer of Oracle Red Bull Racing collects the Constructors trophy on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of QatarLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Carlos Sainz, Williams
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Carlos Sainz, WilliamsDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Carlos Sainz, Williams
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Carlos Sainz, WilliamsDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Carlos Sainz, Williams, Alexander Albon, Williams, James Vowles, Team Principal, Williams
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