“The battery was at zero”: Kimi Antonelli explains his dramatic Melbourne start. Kimi Antonelli reflects on his dramatic start at the 2026 Australian GP.

The 2026 Australian GP brought thrills and challenges for the young Bolognese driver, Kimi Antonelli. After a tense start, he found himself in seventh place at the end of the first lap. Despite this setback, Antonelli managed to work his way back and claim a well-deserved second place behind his teammate George Russell, driving a Mercedes that is not only superior in terms of engine performance. “But we have a lot of work to do, because things can change very quickly this year,” he explained.

Making an impression on the team

One moment that stood out occurred just after the traditional podium photo celebrating the Australian one-two finish. George Russell seemed ready to leave the podium quickly, while the mechanics rushed to bring Antonelli forward in celebration. Despite Russell being the winner, it was clear that the young Bolognese is starting to earn the team’s recognition. Russell, the championship leader, may have made a critical misjudgment by not naming his teammate as a potential title rival, instead pointing to Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen—perhaps as part of a subtle psychological game.

A dramatic start

Antonelli’s race began disastrously. Starting from the front row, he was down to seventh by the end of lap one. “Yes, I had a problem,” Antonelli admitted. “I couldn’t even do a proper burn-out while getting to the grid because I had no power. I was very worried because the car didn’t respond when I pressed the throttle. Then I stopped in my grid slot, switched the engine mode, and saw zero on the battery—I got a little scared.”

With a larger turbo than Ferrari, a tricky launch was expected, but the challenge proved greater than anticipated. “Definitely, we saw firsthand how tricky the start can be. This is something we need to work on. But for the rest, the car is really fast. I have to thank the team, because today’s second place was possible mainly thanks to them—they rebuilt the car after what happened in FP3.”

Impressive pace despite challenges

During the race, Antonelli experienced graining on the front left tyre, yet he maintained an impressive pace. “The car is there because, at the end of the day, you also have to be fast in the corners. The W17 is enjoyable to drive and feels like a complete car. Of course, we must continue developing it, because Ferrari was quick in the first stint. Things can change very quickly this year, so we need to evolve the W17 to maximize results every time.”

Handling highs and lows

Melbourne was a rollercoaster weekend for the 19-year-old. A crash in the final free practice session could have been costly, but Antonelli showed remarkable resilience. “It was definitely a very up-and-down weekend for me. The positive thing is that I managed to respond after every situation. The pace is good, I feel confident in the car, so there’s potential for great results in the future.”

Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s P2 finish in Melbourne is a testament to both the W17’s underlying performance and the rookie’s ability to stay composed when his “zero battery” display threatened to ruin his race before it began. While the technical disparity between the Mercedes and Ferrari turbochargers created a “scary” moment at the lights, Kimi Antonelli’s recovery pace suggests that once the Silver Arrows solve their launch-phase energy mapping, the fight for the 2026 crown may well become an internal Brackley affair.