F1 season opener messed up

Rosberg criticized: Kimi “really overdid it”

Andrea Kimi Antonelli crashed in his first outing.(Bild: AP/ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Andrea Kimi Antonelli's crash in his first practice session in the W15 did not go uncommented on by Formula 1 experts Ralf Schumacher and Nico Rosberg. "Totally exaggeratedly simple, totally over-motivated," was the latter's verdict on Sky.

"He was fast until then. Lewis Hamilton was on the track at the same time. That was okay. But that's obviously super unfavourable," analyzed the 2016 world champion. Antonelli had made an impressively fast start to the first Monza practice session on Friday, setting the first fastest time straight away. However, the pleasure did not last long: after a few minutes, the young Italian steered too hard in turn 11, causing him to lose control of the Mercedes car. After the car began to spin, it came to a halt in the tire stack.

Nico Rosberg(Bild: GEPA)

"You can't turn a cow into a tiger"
Schumacher also described the situation as "awkward", but noted: "You can't turn a cow into a tiger. But you can slow down a tiger. All good from that point of view. Youth researches." 

Antonelli will take over from seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes next season as an 18-year-old. "It's a special challenge to go straight into a works team like that," says Schumacher. The youngster is already predicted to have a great Formula 1 career - even if the start has not quite gone to plan ...