Kimi Antonelli flies: Max Verstappen mocks George Russell in press conference

Another historic day for Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who becomes the youngest driver ever to take pole position in Monte Carlo. The Formula 1 World Championship leader on Sunday will start from the first spot on the grid with two veterans and world champions like Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton behind him.

“It was definitely a mistake-free lap, where I managed to put everything together, I didn’t let the car slide too much,” said the 19-year-old Mercedes driver. “It was clean, I took the right risks, without overdoing it, and definitely that helped me get the pole. I was worried after Friday, but this morning from the first lap, the car seemed to come back to life. We scrambled the setup and definitely the car gave me a lot more confidence.”

Teammate George Russell finished only sixth, and in the press conference Max Verstappen, with whom he has clashed often in the past, provoked him, “Kimi is doing exactly what he has to do, especially in the confrontation with his teammate. I think George is scratching his head a little bit at the moment.”

The direct participant explained his difficulties this way, “Kimi is able to make the tires work better, you can see it from the data, he brings them up to temperature more and it’s easier from there. I have to change driving style or find a different set-up, because the one I use now at the moment doesn’t work for me.”