Kimi Antonelli knocked out in Abu Dhabi Q2: Overheated rear tyres cost him after pushing too hard. Andrea Kimi Antonelli was knocked out in Q2 at the Abu Dhabi GP.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s debut Formula 1 season concluded with a frustrating Q2 exit at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The young Mercedes driver, who has shown flashes of brilliance throughout the year, was unable to advance further due to overheated rear tyres on his final Q2 lap, ultimately finishing 14th on the grid.

Strong start but rookie mistakes cost Antonelli

After three solid practice sessions, the Bologna-born driver entered qualifying with high hopes. However, a lack of rear grip during the critical stage of Q2 caused him to lose time and finish just outside the top 10. He was eliminated by only four thousandths of a second, highlighting how even minor tyre issues can make a decisive difference in F1.

Reflecting on his session, Antonelli said that his first Q2 lap was “pretty awful,” and the second lap was “not much better.” Despite his frustration, he quickly shifted focus to the race ahead, emphasizing the importance of managing tyres in Abu Dhabi’s challenging conditions.

Q1 pace would have secured Q3

Had Antonelli been able to replicate his Q1 performance, he would not only have progressed to Q3 but would have set a time competitive enough for sixth on the grid. Instead, a nearly half-second slower lap in Q2 meant he fell short, largely due to aggressive driving that overheated the rear tyres. As Antonelli explained, the rear of the car started sliding early in the lap, compromising grip and overall performance.

“The rear started to slide from sector 2, quite early in the lap,” Antonelli said. “It wasn’t the usual point where I start to struggle. I think the tyres were probably too hot. Tomorrow it will be important to manage them, especially as temperatures are expected to be higher than today.”

Managing degradation will be key in the race

Antonelli highlighted that tyre degradation will be significant, making the first stint critical. He stressed the need to manage front tyre graining and rear overheating while running in dirty air, aiming to finish the race in the points despite the Q2 setback.

Toto Wolff explains the Q2 exit

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff provided further insight into Antonelli’s elimination. He explained that the rookie had pushed too aggressively, overloading the tyres in an attempt to extract maximum performance.

“This happens when you push too hard,” Wolff said. “You try to make the most of the lap you have, and the tyres simply cannot cope. Andrea asked too much of them. The tyres overheated and started to slide, costing him valuable time.”

Antonelli’s Abu Dhabi qualifying underlines the learning curve of a first-year F1 driver: flashes of speed mixed with moments where experience is key. With careful tyre management in the race, the Mercedes rookie still has a chance to finish his debut season on a positive note.