Kimi Antonelli faces a tough challenge in Barcelona
Kimi Antonelli is bracing for a fight as he looks to extend his winning streak to six. Following a dominant run, the 19-year-old found himself on the back foot at Barcelona-Catalunya after missing the first practice session while Mercedes test driver Fred Vesti took to the track. Antonelli managed only P5 in FP2, ending the session more than half a second behind his teammate, George Russell.
The competition is heating up, with McLaren showing serious pace and matching Mercedes on track. Just 0.057s separated Russell from the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, painting a clear picture of how tight the field has become. "Definitely George looks very quick, McLaren look very quick as well so it's not going to be easy," Antonelli admitted.
It was a difficult day to find a rhythm, with drivers struggling to keep tyre temperatures in check. Mercedes Deputy Team Principal Bradley Lord noted that the pecking order is shifting, with Ferrari also appearing strong. With track temperatures expected to climb further, the focus for the team shifts to finding a setup that can handle the heat, as the race for the podium looks set to be an absolute dogfight.
