Among the standout performers of the Australian Grand Prix was a name carrying high expectations but also the understanding that it would be an uphill battle. That didn’t stop Kimi Antonelli, who staged a remarkable comeback while also showcasing glimpses of the wet-weather talent well known to those who followed him in junior categories.
“It’s a result I wouldn’t have expected from that starting position, but I knew that with the rain today, anything could happen. I’m really happy with how the race went. The team did an amazing job, guiding me brilliantly in all conditions. I’m pleased with how we managed everything,” said the Mercedes driver.
After failing to make it into Q2 due to floor damage from running over a curb, the Italian started 16th on the grid, sandwiched between the two Saubers. However, the retirements of Isack Hadjar and Carlos Sainz before the race even began allowed him to gain a couple of positions.
In the early stages, Antonelli found himself stuck in midfield traffic, battling with Nico Hülkenberg and Lance Stroll. A spin at Turn 4, caused by putting his tires on the wet and extremely slippery grass, briefly cost him both his position to the Sauber driver and his confidence.
However, thanks to the team’s constant support over the radio, guiding him through all race conditions, Antonelli gradually regained his rhythm, setting the stage for his impressive charge up to fourth place.
“The team did an excellent job, especially after the mistake that cost me some confidence at that moment. They were great at calming me down and helping me get back into the groove,” the Mercedes driver explained post-race, emphasizing the crucial role the team played in his performance.
This was not only Antonelli’s first-ever Formula 1 race but also his first wet race in a top-class single-seater, as even his TPC test sessions had provided very limited experience in such conditions. That made the team’s work behind the scenes essential, though it doesn’t take away from the solid drive Antonelli delivered in the second half of the race.
Following the Safety Car deployed after Fernando Alonso’s crash, Antonelli became one of the key players, battling Pierre Gasly’s Alpine for ninth place. The decisive moment came during the pit stops when several drivers switched from slicks back to Intermediates.
Mercedes was among the first teams to make the call, anticipating a worsening of conditions with heavier rain approaching. They opted for a double stop, bringing in both George Russell and Antonelli. This proved to be the right move, allowing the Italian to gain multiple positions and climb to fifth, just behind Alex Albon’s Williams.
Antonelli then executed a bold move on Alex Albon, overtaking him with a late-braking maneuver around the outside of Turn 9, before setting off in pursuit of his teammate. However, Russell had a small buffer that allowed him to manage the closing stages more comfortably.
Despite his early mistake, Antonelli demonstrated not only solid racecraft in his F1 debut but, more importantly, the ability to seize opportunities at critical moments, maximizing the situation to his advantage.
In mixed wet-dry conditions, errors are common, especially on slick tires—one of the key aspects Antonelli felt he learned from during the race. “Today was tough, especially at the start and behind the Safety Car, because the tires cool down so much and you immediately lose a lot of grip.”
“It’s super, super difficult because as soon as you try to accelerate or go through high-speed corners, you suddenly lose traction. It’s always very tricky, especially on slicks, but I’m happy with how it went.”
“It was fun. It was a very eventful race. I really wanted the podium, and I wasn’t aware of the penalty, which was unfortunate, but I really can’t complain about today,” he added, referring to the post-race penalty he initially received for an unsafe release against Nico Hülkenberg—later overturned after Mercedes successfully appealed, proving it was not a dangerous incident.
“I learned so many things. Yesterday was obviously disappointing, and maybe the race could have gone differently, but you never know. I think we managed everything really well today, and it was a great experience to understand what happens in the midfield.”
“Of course, we don’t want to start that far back again, but it was still a very positive experience. Learning how the Intermediate tire works, since it was my first time using it, and understanding how it behaves was valuable,” he said.
With this result, Kimi Antonelli also became the second-youngest driver in history to score points in a Formula 1 race, after Max Verstappen.
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