'P2 was the maximum we could have achieved' in Malaysia, says Antonelli

Kimi Antonelli might be leading the Drivers' Championship by a comfortable 84 points, but the Italian isn't resting on his laurels. Following a second-place finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, Antonelli was quick to highlight the ongoing challenges facing Mercedes. Starting third on the grid at Sepang, Antonelli opted for intermediate tyres in the mixed conditions, a decision that allowed him to leapfrog polesitter Max Verstappen as they charged toward Turn 1.

However, Antonelli's early advantage was short-lived. A Safety Car, triggered by Valtteri Bottas' excursion into the gravel, saw Verstappen reclaim the lead. Antonelli then had to fend off his teammate George Russell to maintain second place. Fortune, however, seemed to favor Antonelli as Russell's race ended prematurely on Lap 50 due to a suspected power unit failure, allowing Antonelli to extend his championship lead.

After the race, Antonelli reflected on the team's struggles, admitting, "I think today was the maximum we could have done. Massive congrats to Max and Red Bull for the incredible weekend. And on our side, a lot of work to do – we've been struggling a bit more than usual, but still really happy to come away with P2."

Post-race, Antonelli shared his satisfaction with the result, stating, "I’m really happy with P2. It’s a result we deserved because we’ve been... Well, to be fair, after the start I thought we could have had a chance to win today. But then after the restart, you know, Max overtook me, also George overtook me. Then I was able to regain P2, and then from that point on I was there in P2 the whole time. So yeah, that was what we deserved today."

The disappointment was palpable regarding Russell's DNF, with Antonelli commenting on the impact of reliability issues on the team. "It’s obviously a big shame for him and the team as well, because it would have been a good result for the team," he noted. "But unfortunately we’ve been suffering from this reliability this year. I’m sure the team is doing its best to understand where the issue is coming from and make sure it doesn’t happen again."

Russell's retirement marked his second mechanical failure of the season, a story not unfamiliar to Antonelli, who also retired in Barcelona due to a power unit issue. Despite the setbacks, Antonelli maintains a cautious approach to his championship lead, understanding the importance of reliability. "That's why it’s really important that whenever I go on track, especially with things in my control, I need to make sure that I do my best," he added, emphasizing his commitment to maximizing performance amid uncertainties.