Rosberg praises Kimi
During the Shanghai weekend, Kimi Antonelli made history in Formula 1. The 2006-born driver first became the youngest pole-sitter ever and then secured his maiden victory in the pinnacle of motorsport. Only Max Verstappen achieved a win at a younger age—18 years old—at the 2016 Spanish GP.
Super Max’s victory was influenced by the rivalry between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, which reached its peak with the first-lap incident at Montmeló. Now, it’s the German who is applauding Antonelli for his first F1 win, in a video shared by Mercedes’ social media channels.
Rosberg’s words
“Great job, Kimi, what a fantastic race! Congratulations, it’s amazing to see your progress over all this time. It was truly thrilling to see you achieve your first Formula 1 victory—you really deserved it. I wish you all the best for the upcoming races.”
Like Antonelli, Rosberg won his first GP at Shanghai. It was 2012, and it also marked Mercedes’ first win since returning to F1: “You have an incredible car, and this victory has parallels with my own situation, because I also won my first race in China. Now we are both among the only seven drivers to have won a Formula 1 race with Mercedes. It’s really, really special. I’ll continue cheering for you. My best wishes to you, the team, and, of course, George. It’s going to be an incredibly exciting season, and I hope to see you again very, very soon.”
Kimi Antonelli’s victory confirms that the Italian prodigy has fully adapted to the pressures of a top-tier seat. With the backing of legends like Rosberg and the technical superiority of the Mercedes power unit, the young driver from Bologna is no longer just a “prospect”—he is a genuine contender. For the F1 fans, seeing an Italian driver win in a car as dominant as the W17 brings back memories of the sport’s golden eras, and with Rosberg’s endorsement, the hype around Antonelli has reached a fever pitch.
While the internal battle with George Russell is expected to intensify as the European leg of the season approaches, for now, the Mercedes family is celebrating its newest winner. Antonelli’s composure in Shanghai mirrored the clinical efficiency Nico Rosberg was known for, suggesting that the “parallel” mentioned by the former champion might extend far beyond just the location of their first trophies. If Kimi can maintain this trajectory, he may soon find himself following Rosberg’s footsteps all the way to a World Championship title.
Would you like me to look into the full list of those seven Mercedes winners Nico Rosberg mentioned
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