Antonelli says he chose caution on way to fifth in Baku

Antonelli clipped the wall at Turn 1 in qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and started 16th. He recovered to fifth, scoring 10 points. Team-mate George Russell won the race, reducing Antonelli’s championship lead from 81 to 66 points.

In comments to reporters, including RacingNews365, published on 1 October, Antonelli said he made a conscious decision after the start not to push at full pace throughout the race. He said he did not feel confident he could do so without making mistakes.

Antonelli said accepting fifth was difficult but preferable to risking a retirement. He also felt he would not have managed the race that way 12 months earlier.