Antonelli admits yellow flag “mistake” cost him a front-row start | Formula 1

Andrea Kimi Antonelli said he cost himself front row starting position for the Austrian Grand Prix by slowing too much in reaction to a yellow flag at the end of his lap.

He was the first driver on the scene after Max Verstappen spun into a barrier at turn nine. Single yellow flags were being displayed but Antonelli mistook them for double waved yellow. He therefore abandoned his lap, when he could have slowed but continued.

“I don’t know why, but I thought it was a double yellow,” he told Sky. “So I aborted completely and missed the front row.”

“I shouldn’t have done that, that was my mistake.”

Antonelli’s team mate Russell spotted the warning was only a single waved yellow and slowed briefly but completed his lap. He took pole position ahead of the Ferrari drivers, leaving Antonelli fourth.

However Antonelli does not believe his lap would have been quick enough to beat Russell had he completed it.

“It would have been very close with George,” he said. “There was only a tenth between us, so he would have a little bit ahead, but still, it would’ve been front row, so it’s a shame for that.”

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Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff admitted he though the team had lost its chance to take pole position when Verstappen crashed moments after the Ferrari drivers set the fastest times.

“Of course I was in doubt because what I saw is a yellow and I saw Kimi aborting and that was pretty much the session done and I was super-angry about it,” he said. “And then George was on pole.”

Wolff said Russell’s reaction to the situation showed “all his experience.”

“His lap was incredible, he lifted at the right time, the necessary amount and that’s the pole position.”

Although Antonelli had been consistently quick throughout practice and qualifying, Wolff believes Russell would have taken pole position even without the yellow flag at the end of qualifying.

“He [Antonelli] will be super frustrated because he was the dominant driver throughout the weekend and then at the end he missed out on that with the yellow,” he said. “Having said that, I think George’s lap was quicker until then anyway.”

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2026 Austrian Grand Prix

• Antonelli admits yellow flag “mistake” cost him a front-row start
• Russell takes pole in contentious end to qualifying after Verstappen crashes
• 2026 Austrian Grand Prix grid
• Russell nabs fastest time off Antonelli in final practice with Hamilton close behind
• “Large risk” Red Bull will be unable to upgrade engine due to FIA’s ADUO decision – Mekies

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