Kimi Antonelli expressed on Thursday that his first Formula One victory has heightened his awareness of his capabilities, as he and Mercedes strive to consolidate their early-season lead in Japan. The 19-year-old Italian secured his maiden win at the Chinese Grand Prix, becoming the second-youngest driver ever to win a race, trailing only Max Verstappen. This triumph followed his second-place finish at the season opener in Australia.
Mercedes has dominated the season so far, achieving one-two finishes in both races, with Antonelli’s teammate George Russell winning in Australia. Despite the breakthrough victory, Antonelli emphasized that his approach for the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix would remain unchanged, though he acknowledged the boost in confidence the win provided. “The main difference is that the victory has given me greater insight into what I can achieve,” he said. “However, I intend to maintain the same strategy since it has proven effective.”
Antonelli, who also set the record as the youngest pole-sitter in F1 history at Shanghai, received a warm reception upon returning to his hometown of Bologna. He is the first Italian to win a Formula One Grand Prix in two decades, since Giancarlo Fisichella. Alongside Russell, Antonelli has the opportunity to build on their strong start at Suzuka, where Mercedes last triumphed in 2019 with Valtteri Bottas.
The Japanese Grand Prix will be followed by a month-long break in the calendar due to the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian races amid conflict in the Middle East. Antonelli reflected on the interruption, saying, “It’s never ideal to pause when momentum is high, but the positive is that it allows time to reflect and identify areas for improvement.”
Russell currently leads the championship standings by four points over Antonelli, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc trailing by 13 points in third place. Pursuing his first world title, Russell remarked that Mercedes is now reaping rewards after challenging seasons. “Remaining loyal to the team through highs and lows has paid off, and there is a strong foundation of trust,” said the British driver, who joined Mercedes in 2022.
