Antonelli rues error after feeling ‘front row was possible’ during Qualifying for Bahrain GP in Malaysia

BAHRAIN, 4 OCTOBER 2026 —

Kimi Antonelli will start the Bahrain Grand Prix from third on the grid after a qualifying session in which the Mercedes driver believed a front-row position was within reach before a track-limits infringement in Q2 forced a tyre strategy compromise that left him short of fresh rubber for the final shootout.

That momentum was interrupted in the second segment of qualifying when his initial lap time was deleted for exceeding track limits, a penalty that compelled the team to fit a new set of soft tyres for a second Q2 run and thereby reduced the number of fresh sets available for Q3.

With only one new set of softs remaining for the decisive segment, Antonelli elected to wait until the circuit was clear before beginning his first flying lap. The tactic initially placed him third on the provisional classification before he was demoted to fourth by a faster time from Isack Hadjar.

A subsequent penalty applied to Hadjar will elevate Antonelli back to third on the starting grid, a development the Mercedes driver described as "not too bad" and "good news" when informed of the revision.

Reflecting on the session, Antonelli said: "It's a shame because with only one set [of soft tyres, there was] big pressure. I did what I could, but definitely with another set, we could have fought for front row – not P1, because Max [Verstappen] was just too quick today. So probably front row was possible today, but obviously a shame with the track limits and we'll try to do our best tomorrow."

Verstappen's pace on Saturday confirmed the Red Bull driver as the clear benchmark, a factor Antonelli acknowledged when assessing the realistic ceiling for his own qualifying performance. The loss of a second fresh soft compound in Q3, a direct consequence of the Q2 deletion, meant the Mercedes driver was unable to mount a multi-run attack on the front row and had to extract his maximum from a single timed lap under high pressure.

Looking ahead to Sunday's race, Antonelli highlighted tyre degradation as a primary strategic variable and raised the possibility of a two- or three-stop contest. "Deg is going to be very big – we'll see if it's going to be a matter of two stops, three stops," he said. Weather uncertainty adds a further layer of complexity, with the driver noting that rain is forecast for the Grand Prix. "Also, rain is around tomorrow.

So yeah, we'll try everything we can, and I'm looking forward to it tomorrow."

The qualifying outcome leaves Mercedes with a car on the second row for the Bahrain round, positioned to capitalise on any variability in degradation or weather. Antonelli's championship lead remains intact, and the team's race-day strategy will now hinge on managing the high degradation anticipated at the circuit while remaining alert to the potential intervention of wet weather.

Related: Mercedes · Kimi Antonelli · Bahrain