Kimi Antonelli shares 'hurt' after painful British GP setbacks

Kimi Antonelli has admitted his failure to score at the British Grand Prix “hurts” after seeing his championship lead significantly reduced.

Antonelli was on course to challenge for victory at Silverstone as he closed in on race leader Charles Leclerc with a substantial tyre advantage in the closing stages.

However, a wheel shield failure left him struggling to keep the car under control, and two trips through the pit lane dropped him to ninth place.

Antonelli admitted he believes there may have been a deeper issue with the car beyond the team's initial diagnosis.

“I lost, I don't know how much downforce, the car wouldn't turn anymore,” Antonelli told media including RacingNews365. 

“In some of the corners, the wheel was in the air, so there was something fundamental that was broken. 

“We only know now that the wheel shield broke, but we don't know if something else broke, because by the loss it feels like it was more than just a wheel shield.

“But then, of course, the team will have more time to analyse it. It was a shame, because we had a shot for the win today.”

Antonelli's day took a further hit when he was issued a five-second time penalty for exceeding track limits while attempting to circle around with his car problem.

After the field bunched up under a late safety car, it ensured he would not score points after his time penalty was applied.

“These are the rules, so I cannot do anything about it,” he added. 

“I was trying my best to stay on track, but it was really undrivable. To get a penalty for that, it hurts, but these are the rules, and nothing I can do about it.”

Kimi Antonelli shares 'hurt' after painful British GP setbacks