In a race that will remain etched in F1 history, sensation Kimi Antonelli left fans stunned after clinching his first victory in China, admitting he almost gave himself a “heart attack” in the final laps.
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The 19-year-old Italian, who on Saturday in Shanghai became the youngest F1 driver to take pole position, was incisive from the start, fighting fiercely with his Mercedes teammate George Russell and Ferrari rivals Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc during the opening laps of the race.
But a well-executed and controlled drive isolated the young Italian in the lead, while Russell managed the Scuderia’s attackers, with Antonelli finally crossing the checkered flag with a 5,5-second lead.
Panicky moment on the track
Unsurprisingly, the young driver was overwhelmed with emotion upon arriving at parc fermé: “I’m speechless, I’m about to cry to be honest, but a huge thank you to my team because they helped me achieve this dream, he said before bursting into tears. I am super happy. Yesterday, I said I really wanted to bring Italy back to the top, and we did it today.”
Antonelli added a layer of panic to his emotions in the final laps when his wheels locked up in the hairpin and he went straight on, a mistake that cost precious seconds to the chasing Russell. Pushing hard on worn tires, the young Italian had to restrain himself, following his race engineer’s advice to simply focus on the finish.
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“I gave myself a bit of a heart attack towards the end with a flat spot on the tire, Antonelli admitted. But it was a good race. It wasn’t an easy start and I probably covered the inside a bit too much and left too much space for the Ferrari. But in the end, the pace was good and we managed to bring the car home. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season now. I’m still focusing race by race, and then we’ll see where we are at the end of the year.”
A shared celebration for Mercedes
While Antonelli savored his historic triumph, Russell was equally delighted to share the podium, while Hamilton enjoyed his first top 3 with Ferrari.
“A huge well done to Kimi, because it’s always very special to win your first race and obviously, he has driven incredibly this year and this weekend in particular, Russell said. So I’m happy to stand on the podium with him and with Hamilton too. It was a tough battle. Obviously, we both had a very bad start and the Ferraris got past us, but in the end, getting a one-two is all we could have hoped for.”
For Antonelli, it wasn’t just a first victory – it was a statement. The young Italian arrived in F1 last year with style, courage, and a knack for creating drama at the most crucial moments. Shanghai may have tested his heart, but in the end, it was all worth it.
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