Di kubu rival, pebalap Oracle Red Bull Racing Max Verstappen mengakui dirinya memerlukan keberuntungan untuk bisa melewati Antonelli di tikungan pertama.

"We need a bit of luck to try to jump Kimi into Turn 1," kata Verstappen kepada Sky Sports F1.

Verstappen yang berada di posisi kedua sempat melontarkan kelakar ketika dimintai saran untuk mengantisipasi start Antonelli. "So, when the lights go out, you (Antonelli) wait one second.

That's my advice!" candanya.

Mantan juara dunia F1 sekaligus pengamat Sky Sports F1, Jenson Button, memprediksi akan terjadi persaingan sengit di tikungan pertama.

"The exciting thing is Turn 1 - neither of the first two have had a good start this year, and then Lewis is in third," kata Button.

Jarak yang pendek menuju tikungan pertama dinilai Button akan memicu aksi dramatis sejak awal balapan dimulai. "It's so close.

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It's a short run to Turn 1. There's going to be some action," ujarnya.