A Kimi Antonelli crash ended the Mercedes driver’s qualifying session early on Friday ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The 20-year-old championship leader clipped the wall during Q1 and suffered a puncture.
Antonelli had already advanced to Q2. However, his damage prevented him from taking part in the next session.
As a result, he will start Saturday’s race from 16th place in Baku.
Kimi Antonelli Crash Comes After Wall Contact
Antonelli made contact with the wall while pushing during the opening qualifying session.
The incident marked his first mistake since he crashed during final practice at the Australian Grand Prix.
Antonelli initially wanted to continue driving after the contact.
However, Mercedes race engineer Pete Bonnington told him to return to the pits because the car required significant repairs.
“It’s a fairly big job,” Bonnington told Antonelli over team radio.
Antonelli Misses Q3 for First Time This Season
The incident also ended an impressive qualifying record for Antonelli.
The Mercedes driver had reached Q3 at every race before Friday’s session.
He therefore missed the final qualifying segment for the first time this season.
Despite the setback, Antonelli remains at the top of the championship standings.
He holds an 81-point advantage over Mercedes teammate George Russell.
Antonelli Has Already Recovered From Difficult Starts
The qualifying setback may not immediately concern the Mercedes team.
Antonelli showed his ability to recover from a poor starting position at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza.
He started that race from 19th place but fought through the field to finish much higher.
That result demonstrated his ability to make progress during the race despite starting near the back.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix Gives Antonelli Another Challenge
Antonelli will now face another difficult recovery drive in Baku.
The Azerbaijan circuit features long straights and tight corners, creating opportunities for overtaking while also leaving little room for mistakes.
Starting 16th will put Antonelli in traffic from the opening lap.
However, his strong championship position gives him a significant cushion heading into the weekend.
The Mercedes driver will now focus on recovering positions during Saturday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
