Kimi Antonelli reveals frustration in 'lottery' qualifying session

Kimi Antonelli has voiced frustration at missing out on a stronger lap time in Baku despite producing his best qualifying effort since Canada.

The Mercedes driver entered the Azerbaijan Grand Prix under pressure after his performance last time out at Monza was labelled underwhelming by team boss Toto Wolff.

However, a fourth place result in qualifying saw him outpace team-mate George Russell for only the second time this year.

Antonelli credited his clean run of practice sessions with providing him more confidence behind the wheel when it came to qualifying.

“The pace has been strong the whole weekend,” Antonelli told media including RacingNews365.

“Definitely the biggest difference has been that I was able to do clean sessions and to build [up].

“I felt pretty ready for qualifying. The conditions were very difficult with the wind. The wind was a lottery, because it was very gusty and very unpredictable.”

Antonelli's lap was over six-tenths down on pole sitter Max Verstappen, with Carlos Sainz and Liam Lawson being surprise names to complete the top three.

Despite the positive result, Antonelli suggested he had the pace to get himself on the front row alongside Verstappen.

“I’m happy but disappointed at the same time, especially in that last lap,” he added.

“I got this gust of tailwind, and I lost a couple of tenths, two or three tenths.

“The conditions were difficult for everyone at the end of the day. Sometimes you could have been a bit luckier with the wind, and other times, a bit more unlucky.

“So I cannot complain, and we will do our best [in the race].”