Andrea Kimi Antonelli‘s qualifying performance at the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix did not match the steady confidence he had shown earlier in the weekend. The Mercedes rookie displayed encouraging speed during Friday’s practice runs but was eliminated in Q2 on Saturday, missing Q3 by a mere 0.01 seconds. This narrow miss resulted in him starting the race from P15, a position he felt did not reflect his true pace.

Following the qualifying session, Antonelli expressed his disappointment, stating:

“I’ve felt much more confidence in the car and in myself this weekend. I felt good going into qualifying, and Q1 went smoothly. It is annoying and frustrating, therefore, to get knocked out in Q2. I came out of the final corner to start my last lap and felt less grip with the rear tires than on my previous effort. That became worse throughout the lap, so it’s likely we were a bit too hot on the tire temperatures.” —Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes Rookie

Progress and Setbacks Through Practice and Qualifying Sessions

Throughout Friday’s Free Practice sessions, Antonelli appeared to be making solid strides after a series of challenging race weekends. He recorded the seventh-fastest time in FP1 with a 1:16.880, narrowly ahead of teammate George Russell. Although Russell improved during FP2 with a 1:16.417, Antonelli remained competitive, setting a 1:16.520 to place tenth in that session.

Mercedes opted to run an older suspension setup aimed at enhancing stability for both drivers, which initially yielded positive results. Russell successfully advanced into Q3 and secured P4 by finishing within half a tenth of Charles Leclerc’s pole time. Antonelli, meanwhile, demonstrated strong form in Q1 and entered Q2 on good momentum. However, the dynamic changed significantly during his final timed lap.

The critical issue was a loss of rear grip that worsened throughout his last flying lap. His initial time of 1:15.782 was quick enough for the eleventh position, just a hundredth of a second short of the cutoff for Q3 entry. Compounding the setback, this last lap was invalidated due to a track limits violation, pushing Antonelli further back on the grid and relegating him to fifteenth place for Sunday’s race.

Antonelli Eyes Comeback as Mercedes Faces Challenges in Budapest Heat

The Hungarian Grand Prix has provided yet another tough learning experience for Kimi Antonelli amid an emotionally charged rookie year. Taking over Lewis Hamilton’s seat has brought intense scrutiny and elevated expectations, especially after showing flashes of talent with a podium finish in Canada. However, the European leg of the 2025 season has presented mounting difficulties for the young driver.

Mercedes continues to grapple with the effects of increasing ambient temperatures and inconsistent tire grip, issues that have hindered Antonelli’s ability to score points in his last six races. Although the car felt more responsive over the weekend, tire temperature management remained problematic during qualifying, as track evolution and weather conditions complicated efforts to maximize performance. Despite these hurdles, Antonelli remains focused on turning things around.

“Tomorrow is a new day though and we’ll explore how we can fight back into the points. The weather forecast is mixed, and we’ll be prepared for all scenarios. We’d good pace on our long run in FP2 and hopefully we can use that to good effect,” —Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes Rookie

Weather’s Role and Anticipation for Sunday’s Race

The cooling conditions during qualifying, with clouds and increasing wind at the Hungaroring, did not play to Antonelli’s advantage, as slight changes in rear-end stability contributed to his difficulties on that crucial lap. Despite this, the rookie acknowledged that he has felt more comfortable in the car throughout the weekend than in previous events.

Succeeding in the race will depend heavily on Mercedes’ race strategy and how well the team adapts to the ever-changing Budapest weather. Antonelli’s ability to capitalize on the car’s improved long-run pace could be a key factor in securing his first points of the season, making Sunday’s race a pivotal moment in his rookie campaign.