Video: Ghost Car reveals how Kimi Antonelli denied Charles Leclerc pole at Silverstone

Kimi Antonelli produced a surprising qualifying lap to safe pole place for the British Grand Prix, narrowly denying Charles Leclerc after one of many closest battles of the System 1 season. Whereas the ultimate timing screens confirmed solely a tiny margin separating the 2 drivers, a better look utilizing the Ghost Automobile comparability reveals precisely the place the decisive benefit was gained.

The Ghost Automobile evaluation overlays the laps of the Mercedes and Ferrari drivers, permitting followers to check each section of their qualifying performances nook by nook. It gives an enchanting perception into how two excellent laps unfolded and highlights the small particulars that finally decided who would begin Sunday’s race from pole place.

For a lot of the lap, Charles Leclerc appeared to have the higher hand. The Ferrari driver carried wonderful pace by way of the opening sectors and seemed heading in the right direction to safe one other spectacular pole place after as soon as once more extracting the utmost from the SF-26 throughout the decisive Q3 run.

Nevertheless, System 1 qualifying is usually determined by the smallest margins, and Silverstone as soon as once more demonstrated how a lap can change dramatically over its closing kilometres. As the 2 drivers accelerated in the direction of the Hangar Straight after Chapel, the steadiness of energy shifted.

In response to the Ghost Automobile comparability, the Monegasque held a slight benefit earlier than reaching the lengthy again straight. However as soon as each automobiles accelerated onto the full-throttle part, Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes discovered the additional efficiency required to overturn the deficit.

Whether or not the benefit got here from superior traction, vitality deployment, aerodynamic effectivity or just a cleaner exit from the ultimate high-speed sequence, the outcome was the identical. The Italian steadily closed the hole earlier than transferring forward throughout the closing a part of the lap, securing pole place by making the distinction the place it mattered most.

The comparability completely illustrates how extremely shut fashionable System 1 qualifying has develop into. On the highest stage, victories in qualifying are hardly ever decided by one spectacular nook alone. As an alternative, they’re normally determined by a mix of tiny positive aspects amassed all through the lap, with one notably sturdy part typically proving decisive.

For Ferrari, the outcome stays extremely encouraging regardless of narrowly lacking pole. Charles Leclerc as soon as once more demonstrated the sturdy one-lap tempo of the SF-26 and confirmed the progress made following the setup adjustments launched after the Dash session. The Monegasque seemed comfy all through qualifying and extracted one other wonderful efficiency from the automotive.

In the meantime, Kimi Antonelli continued to underline why he has shortly established himself as one in every of System 1’s brightest younger stars. Delivering beneath strain within the closing moments of Q3, the Mercedes driver produced a composed and exact lap when it mattered most, changing a small alternative into pole place.

The Ghost Automobile evaluation additionally highlights simply how evenly matched Ferrari and Mercedes have develop into at Silverstone. Relatively than one automotive dominating throughout your complete lap, each machines displayed totally different strengths in several sectors, creating an thrilling battle that remained undecided till the ultimate seconds.

With each drivers ranging from the entrance row, Sunday’s British Grand Prix guarantees one other fascinating contest. If qualifying tempo is any indication, technique, tyre administration and execution over the race distance are more likely to decide the result, with Ferrari hoping Charles Leclerc can flip his spectacular qualifying pace right into a problem for victory.

Watch the Ghost Automobile video beneath to see precisely the place Kimi Antonelli discovered the decisive time to beat Charles Leclerc and declare pole place for the British Grand Prix.