When Formula 1 revealed that Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli had won its driver of the day poll, having crossed the finishing line in eighth place, this news generated the customarily sneering response. When team boss Toto Wolff congratulated his driver over the team radio, the eye-rolling was almost palpable.
And yet, while the results of the social media poll are often fatuous, in this case there were reasons to be impressed with Antonelli’s performance: floor damage had caused a huge shift in his W16’s performance characteristics. The likely culprit is debris from Charles Leclerc’s contact with Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton on the opening lap.
