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Why Kimi Antonelli was left fighting his Mercedes brakes during the Singapore GP

Kimi Antonelli left the Marina Bay Circuit with another podium finish and a 102-point lead over team-mate George Russell. He is indeed in control of the drivers' championship with another great race under his belt. But he almost left the…

By Alex Harrington · Motorsport

Published: Monday, 12 October 2026 at 10:35 PM

Key Things to Know

Kimi Antonelli struggled with severe brake issues, lack of stopping power, and a long pedal during the Singapore GP.
Mercedes had to run the race without brake data after fixing a sensor fault on the grid.
Antonelli finished third behind Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, extending his championship lead over George Russell to 102 points.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli endured a fraught Singapore Grand Prix due to severe brake issues caused by extreme heat, dirty air, and a pre-race sensor failure. Despite finishing third behind Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc to extend his championship lead over George Russell to 102 points, Antonelli revealed he nearly crashed into the barriers after experiencing poor stopping power and an unresponsive pedal.

The team resolved a brake sensor fault on the grid but had to race without temperature data. Antonelli managed the problem by lifting, coasting, and relying purely on feel, while noting that Mercedes' new upgrade package currently operates in a very narrow performance window.

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Why Kimi Antonelli was left fighting his Mercedes brakes during the Singapore GP

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