In the early moments of Friday’s Baku qualifying, a young driver brushed the wall at Turn 1, sending a front-left tyre into the gravel and ending his pole hunt.
Italian Mercedes junior Kimi Antonelli, who had impressed with a dramatic climb from 19th to a podium at Monza weeks earlier, misjudged his approach in Q1. The impact ruptured his front-left wheel and bent the inner suspension upright, damage that could not be repaired before the next session.
As a result, Antonelli qualified 16th for Saturday’s race, a stark contrast to the hopes he carried into the session. He apologized over the team radio, describing the incident as a “monumental disappointment” and expressing frustration at his miscalculation.
Team officials confirmed the car would return to the garage for a full rebuild, but the schedule left no time for a second run in Q2. Mercedes engineers said the setback highlights the fine margins in street circuits where walls are unforgiving.
Antonelli’s earlier performance at Monza, where a strategic error forced him into the pits yet he recovered to finish on the podium, showed his resilience. The Baku incident adds another challenge as the championship moves toward its next round.
Looking ahead, the driver will aim to regain confidence and fight back through the field, while the team works to ensure the car is race‑ready for Sunday.