During a particularly hot Formula 2 race, many drivers faced car stalling issues. Among them was Italian driver Kimi Antonelli, whose race took a significant hit. Early in the feature race, Antonelli entered the pit lane for his mandatory stop due to the inability of the supersoft tires to maintain grip. However, after the tire change on Lap 8, his car stalled and couldn’t be restarted immediately, despite the engineers’ efforts. This incident left Antonelli in the worst position among the remaining runners, as he found himself at the back of the pack with a considerable gap to Dennis Hauger, who was in 20th place.
The stalling issue was not unique to Antonelli. Earlier in the race, Dennis Hauger, Kush Maini, and Zane Maloney also experienced stalls during the formation lap. Despite these challenges, Antonelli had a remarkable start, making up six positions by the second lap. His progress was promising until the pit stop, where the stall occurred, effectively undoing all his hard work. After the stall, Antonelli rejoined the race in 21st place, trailing the nearest competitor by 25 seconds.
This race highlights the technical difficulties and unpredictability that drivers face, particularly under extreme conditions like intense heat. Antonelli’s race is a stark example of how quickly fortunes can change in motorsport, as a strong start and early gains can be rendered meaningless by technical failures. His situation underscores the critical role of reliable car performance and the challenges engineers face in ensuring cars can withstand demanding race conditions.
