Kimi Antonelli: “It’s a fun challenge”

Andrea Kimi Antonelli is already leading the pack on the brand-new track in Madrid: the Mercedes driver set the fastest time in the second free practice session, ahead of the two Ferrari drivers, Leclerc and Hamilton.

“It’s a fun challenge. This is a truly fantastic circuit to drive on; it presents a real challenge for us drivers, with many high-speed corners and the curbs very close by. You have to be extremely precise with your lines and skilled at braking; it’s very easy to lock up the wheels, since there are several points where you’re braking and turning at the same time.”

“On Sunday, it will be difficult to manage the tires, and overtaking looks like it will be quite complicated. This makes tomorrow morning’s work on the single-lap pace even more important; we’ll focus on that overnight, while also trying to ensure we have a good car for Sunday’s race.”

Teammate Russell emphasized how difficult overtaking will be on this track: “I think it will be very difficult to pass. If we experience the same level of tire degradation we saw in FP1, things would be a bit easier, but yes, it will still be tough.”