Verstappen Defends Antonelli After Baku Qualifying Error: “Part of the Learning Process”

Following a dominant European swing that contrasted sharply with last season’s struggles, championship leader Kimi Antonelli suffered a rare misstep during qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver struck the inside barrier at Turn 1 on his second Q1 flying lap, ending his session prematurely and consigning him to 16th on the grid for Saturday’s race.

Antonelli was visibly frustrated afterward, admitting he had been caught out by evolving track conditions and an unexpected surge of front-end grip on the fateful run. Despite the error, the championship picture remains comfortable; Antonelli holds an 81-point advantage over his nearest rival, and Mercedes’ strong pace in Baku suggests a solid points finish is well within reach.

Max Verstappen echoed that sentiment, urging perspective on the incident. Speaking to Motorsport.com, the reigning champion emphasized that such moments are inevitable for a rookie.

“Something like that can happen. Obviously this sucks for him, but he is still very young,” Verstappen said. “Maybe people forget that sometimes, also in the way they talk about him this season. But this is a learning moment and it’s simply part of the process.”

Verstappen cautioned, however, that consistency remains key to keeping title hopes at bay for teammate George Russell. “You can’t afford to do it too often, of course, but with his speed I think it will all be fine. But it’s obviously still frustrating. He will be the most frustrated about it himself, but Kimi still has every opportunity to score very good points on Saturday.”

Russell shares the optimism for a recovery drive, referencing Antonelli’s remarkable victory at Monza from 19th on the grid. With a touch of humor, the Briton noted: “You can’t discount Kimi. He started 19th in Monza and now he’s in 16th, so he should be leading by a few laps earlier this time!”

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Photo by: Michael Potts / LAT images via Getty Images

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