P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes F1 star Kimi Antonelli has revealed an issue with his car which left him unable to complete his programme during pre-season testing in Bahrain.
Mercedes F1 driver Kimi Antonelli faced car issues during pre-season testing in Bahrain, halting his programme for over 90 minutes on Friday.
Despite a strong winter, Mercedes had a disappointing day, with Antonelli’s car stopping on track, causing a red flag and ending his session early.
Teammate George Russell fared better, finishing fourth in Bahrain timesheets, with Mercedes working to solve the car issue before the Australian Grand Prix.
Antonelli confirmed the team identified and is fixing the problem, expressing confidence for Australia and acknowledging tough competition from Red Bull, McLaren, and Ferrari.
Meanwhile, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc set the fastest time in testing, McLaren’s Lando Norris came second, and Russell lagged behind, raising concerns about Mercedes’ starts for the upcoming season.
