Kimi Antonelli Struggles with Balance Issues at Hungaroring
Kimi Antonelli struggled with car balance issues during the second practice at Hungaroring after missing the first session. Despite challenges, he remains optimistic for the upcoming sessions.
Formula 1
24.07.2026
Kimi Antonelli faced a challenging start to his race weekend at the Hungaroring on Friday. The Mercedes driver missed the first free practice session and struggled notably with his car's balance during the second practice.
The 19-year-old expressed his difficulties, stating, "It was a tricky first day here in Budapest. When I returned to the cockpit for the second practice, I had to contend with the balance issues. This was particularly evident during a fast lap."
Antonelli's initial attempt on soft tires was cut short due to a red flag. After the session resumed, he encountered traffic and rear wheel locking, which hindered his ability to set a competitive lap time. However, the Italian felt more positive about his long runs, where the tires operated within a better performance window.
Despite the setbacks, Antonelli remains optimistic for Saturday. "We have gathered a lot of data and insights from today that we will analyze overnight. I am looking forward to getting back on track tomorrow. The FP3 will be a crucial hour where we hope to better tune the car to compete for pole position in the afternoon. Given the gap we saw today, it won’t be easy, but we will give it our all."
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