Teenage dreams so hard to beat, and what a moment when realised for Kimi Antonelli as he took his first Formula One victory at the Chinese Grand Prix.
There were tears from the 19-year-old who delivered on his enormous promise in Shanghai, but behind them no little steel as the Mercedes driver demonstrated he is in the world championship fight.
“Thank you so much to my team because they have helped me to achieve this dream,” said Antonelli, who was heartily congratulated by a driver eager to remind the sport that his career is far from over yet, having made his debut when Antonelli was not even 12 months old.
That was Lewis Hamilton, who claimed third place, his first podium for Ferrari after a blow-for-blow street fight with his teammate Charles Leclerc. The seven-time world champion gave notice he has lost none of his edge, nor his competitive spirit.
Last season, Hamilton appeared so disenchanted with the sport it felt like he was ready to call time. The difference now, a re-energised Hamilton scrapping as when at his peak, is heartening indeed. It was also impossible not to be moved watching Antonelli’s race engineer, Pete Bonnington, on the podium with his new boy, standing alongside Hamilton, with whom he shared so much success at Mercedes, the joy between all three entirely open and genuine.
The win for the teenager meant as much as the first Ferrari podium for the old dog. They were the standouts in what was a frenetic fight for much of the race, where Antonelli beat his Mercedes teammate George Russell into second and Hamilton refused to bow to Leclerc, who finished fourth.
There will be smiles all round too in the boardrooms of F1. For all that the drivers do not like these new regulations, in China they threw up some enormously entertaining racing, with battles across the field. The formula has its flaws but it is hard to argue with the roars of approval echoing across the packed grandstands at a sold-out Shanghai circuit. Rumoured rule changes will return to the back burner on this evidence, despite Max Verstappen delivering another damning broadside on the current formula after the race.
Across all of which stood Antonelli who, having retaken the lead lost to Hamilton on the opening lap, did not relinquish it again. He closed it out with the nerveless poise of a hardened veteran – apart from one heart-stopping moment when he locked up at the hairpin three laps from the end. “I gave myself a heart attack,” he admitted.
Antonelli’s tyres squealed and the rubber seared the tarmac but he held on and, doubtless with his stomach furiously trying to escape his mouth, finished the job. It was the impetuousness of youth, perhaps, as the Italian became the second-youngest driver to win a race, behind only the four-time champion Verstappen.
Antonelli is now only four points behind Russell in the world championship. The scale of his achievement cannot be overestimated in only his second season in F1. His victory will also be celebrated with abandon in Italy, as the country’s first grand prix winner since Giancarlo Fisichella last took the flag two full decades ago.
It was vindication, too, for his having been boldly backed by his team principal, Toto Wolff, to replace Hamilton in 2025, despite his lack of experience when he became the third youngest driver in F1 history at just 18. A member of the Mercedes junior team, he had not competed in F3 and completed only one season in F2 in 2024, where he finished sixth, before he was promoted to Mercedes.
Unsurprisingly many questioned the move but Wolff was adamant that Antonelli represented the future. The Austrian reminded him after the race that the naysayers had thought it would be too much. His pleasure in having proved them wrong was as palpable as that of his protege.
The son of the sports car driver Marco Antonelli, who was bouncing in celebration in China, Antonelli has more than justified the faith shown in him. Antonelli delivered a superbly well-judged drive, indicating there is more to come from the Bologna-born youngster.
The decisive moment came when retaking the lead from Hamilton while Russell dropped to fourth off the start, after which having to vie with the two Ferraris left him too much to do, with his teammate on rails at the front.
Hamilton and Leclerc did make a fist of it against Mercedes in the opening third, but as has been the pattern this season, once Antonelli and Russell got away they were uncatchable, the gap still four or five 10ths according to the Ferrari team principal, Fred Vasseur.
Pleasingly, the two Ferrari men were happy to enjoy their own fight and F1 was the richer for it. The pair vied with one another to thrilling effect, swapping places repeatedly, neither willing to give up the ghost until Hamilton came out on top. Both had seemingly been wearing big grins while they were at it, declaring it had been great fun – even as it surely led to some nervous moments on the Ferrari pit wall.
Shanghai quite the show all round then. It would take time to sink in admitted Antonelli but then, well. Teenage kicks, right through the night.
1 Andrea Kimi Antonelli (It) Mercedes
2 George Russell (GB) Mercedes at 5.52sec
3 Lewis Hamilton (GB) Ferrari at 25.27s
4 Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari at 28.89s
5 Oliver Bearman (GB) Haas at 57.27s
6 Pierre Gasly (Fr) Alpine at 59.65s
7 Liam Lawson (NZ) RacingBulls at 1m 20.59s
8 Isack Hadjar (Fr) Red Bull at 1:27.25
9 Carlos Sainz (Sp) Williams at 1 lap
10 Franco Colapinto (Arg) Alpine at 1 lap
11 Nico Hülkenberg (Ger) Audi at 1 lap
12 Arvid Lindblad (GB) RacingBulls at 1 lap
13 Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Cadillac at 1 lap
14 Esteban Ocon (Fr) Haas at 1 lap
15 Sergio Pérez (Mex) Cadillac at 1 lap
Not Classified: Max Verstappen (Neth) Red Bull, Fernando Alonso (Sp) Aston Martin, Lance Stroll (Can) Aston Martin.
DNS: Oscar Piastri (Aus) McLaren, Lando Norris (GB) McLaren, Gabriel Bortoleto (Bra) Audi, Alexander Albon (Tha) Williams.
World drivers' championship standings
1 George Russell (GB) 51pts
2 Andrea Kimi Antonelli (It) 47
3 Charles Leclerc (Mon) 34
4 Lewis Hamilton (GB) 33
5 Oliver Bearman (GB) 17
6 Lando Norris (GB) 15
7 Pierre Gasly (Fr) 9
8 Max Verstappen (Neth) 8
9 Liam Lawson (NZ) 8
10 Arvid Lindblad (GB) 4
Behind the leaders, there was calamity for the defending world champion, Lando Norris, and his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri. Both suffered separate engine problems meaning neither was able to start the race. It is the first time Norris has not made the startline in his career, while Piastri has still yet to do so this season, a disastrous opening for the Australian and for the defending constructors’ champions.
Verstappen also endured a tough time in China. He was once again unable to get away quickly after what has been an enormously difficult weekend for the Dutchman. After dropping from eighth to 13th place, he was then forced to retire the car with a problem on lap 46.
Ollie Bearman was fifth for Haas, Pierre Gasly sixth for Alpine, with his teammate Franco Colapinto in 10th, Liam Lawson seventh for Racing Bulls, Isack Hadjar eighth for Red Bull and Carlos Sainz ninth for Williams.
