Kimi Antonelli highlights crucial 'click' element in bid to revamp F1 form

Kimi Antonelli has highlighted the significance of having strong qualifying pace in order to bring home points in F1.

This year, the F1 pack has been tightly condensed amid the final year of the regulation cycle, with margins in qualifying often being unpredictably close.

Additionally, overtaking has been tricky due to the dirty air produced by the cars, leaving track position as a crucial factor for in-race battles.

It has meant qualifying high up in the order has become a critical element to bring home rewards, as securing track position early on has proven to be important for the remainder of the grand prix.

“Track position this year has been basically everything,” Antonelli told media including RacingNews365.

“Also lap one – it can really make a difference depending on where you are. 

“If you're able to gain some places at the start, there's a very high chance you're going to maintain them, just because clean air is so powerful and so much easier to drive in clean air. 

“So I think qualifying is very important. Especially this year with the gaps being so close, it's really important not to make any mistakes because otherwise you get very punished. 

“And for sure, within me, there's more to come when it's about Q3.”

Antonelli has been outpaced by team-mate George Russell throughout the year, with the latter coming out on top 18 times at the 20 events held so far.

Antonelli has also struggled at times to secure a spot in the top 10 shootout and knows it is a significant detail he must improve going forward.

“I think it's more about understanding how to put more things together, especially when we come into the final stages of qualifying,” he said.

“If I can make that click, then it can be a different story.”