Antonelli explains 'now or never' move on Leclerc in F1 Dutch GP

Andrea Kimi Antonelli will now “think twice” before attempting a repeat of the move that ultimately caused a collision with Charles Leclerc during the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix.

Leclerc retired on lap 53 after his Ferrari spun into the Turn 3 barrier, as he was clipped by the Mercedes of Antonelli, who was attempting a risky overtake on the inside. 

It came after Mercedes pitted its 19-year-old rookie for soft rubber on lap 52, as he was struggling to overtake Leclerc for fifth on his old, hard tyres.

Ferrari responded immediately by also putting softs on Leclerc, who rejoined in seventh and right ahead of Antonelli before their collision that same lap.

Although Antonelli wasn’t overly confident the move would work, he said the tight and twisty nature of Zandvoort circuit made him attempt an overtake at the earliest opportunity. 

“I went for it because it's so difficult to overtake,” said Antonelli, who received a 10-second penalty because of it.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Photo by: Jayce Illman / Getty Images

“The more laps you do in dirty air, the more it hurts your tyre and your pace. I went for it and it was a bit too much.

“Now I'm just re-looking at it. I just tried at some point to let it go but it was not enough.

"Obviously I feel sorry to him. Next time I'll probably think twice before making the move – unless I'm 100% sure I'm going to stick it.”

Antonelli ultimately finished outside of the points, representing a missed opportunity because the Italian had performed strongly until the incident. 

“It’s a shame because the pace was good, we were coming back in front,” he added. “I knew that was probably the best chance I had to make the move because I was very close to him, he had a colder tyre.

“I just tried to move but it was a bit too much. When I saw he was coming back in front, I tried to let it go but it was not enough.”

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Antonelli then received a five-second penalty for speeding in the pitlane, capping off an incident-filled weekend for him as he also suffered an off in FP1 - which he reckons caused his Q2 exit.

“The speed limit is something I need to make sure doesn't happen again,” said Antonelli, who replaced Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes.

“I'm not too sure when I did it, but I think it was probably the first pitstop. So I need to make sure that doesn't happen.

“I think, also, the late safety car was unfortunate. Because I already had almost a 10-second gap from the guy behind. I think it would have been possible to finish P6 or P7.”

Antonelli remains seventh in the drivers’ championship ahead of the final nine rounds of 2025, but is now tied on 64 points with Williams driver Alex Albon.

The Mercedes driver is ahead thanks to his best result this year being third in Canada, compared to several fifth-place finishes for Albon.