“I really struggle to find the words, the emotion is overwhelming and the tears come uncontrollably. An enormous thanks to my entire team for supporting me in achieving this incredible milestone. My greatest joy today is finally bringing the Italian flag back to the top step of the podium.” These were the words of Kimi Antonelli as he stepped out of his W17 after winning his first Formula 1 Grand Prix. This victory was especially meaningful for him and for Italy, which returns to the top of the podium in China twenty years after Giancarlo Fisichella’s last triumph in Sepang. It was a historic day that will be remembered for a long time, with hopes that more victories will follow soon.
Antonelli: “Beating Russell will require a huge effort”
“We knew there was a chance, and fortunately it came true today. I’m over the moon, I’m extremely happy. This victory tastes amazing, so I’m really delighted.” Antonelli said to Sky Sport F1 after stepping off the podium following his first career F1 triumph. The Bolognese driver then analyzed his race, highlighting the key moments he faced: “Certainly the start, because all the previous starts I had made were terrible. I didn’t have much confidence at the beginning. Then the launch wasn’t bad, although I did lose the position to Lewis. But after that, the pace was good. On the medium tires I was managing well. George had a little more pace, but on the hards I was fine.” Towards the end, Antonelli made a small error, running wide at the end of Shanghai’s long straight and losing a couple of seconds: “At the end, I relaxed too much and made a mistake. I won’t do that again, but the race pace was really good.”
Antonelli also spoke about the challenging moment after the safety car restart, when the Ferraris closed in and he had to defend for a few laps. “I stayed calm, I managed to remain composed in every situation. Even the restart on the hards was very, very difficult because we struggled a lot to warm up the tires compared to Ferrari. But I felt good, I felt in control. It was really enjoyable, and of course I dedicate this to my family, my team, and all the fans following from home.”
Regarding a potential championship battle with Russell, he added: “George is a formidable opponent in every respect, and staying ahead of him will require a huge effort. Sharing the garage with a driver of his caliber is a privilege for my growth. The championship is still very long, so our mantra now must be to focus only on one race at a time.”
Looking ahead: goals and next races
The Bologna-born driver concluded his interview by discussing his goals and approach for upcoming races after this first triumph: “I’ve definitely achieved one of my big objectives. This certainly gives you more confidence. From now on, I’ll have a slightly different approach, a bit more relaxed, more aware of my potential. But beating George and the others won’t be easy, and we’ll need to keep pushing because today went well. We’re only at the beginning, and we have to continue like this.” Kimi Antonelli will now look to replicate his success in two weeks in Japan, where both his Mercedes and Russell’s will start as favorites.
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