Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes added eight points to his total as he took 6th from the F1 Chinese GP following the removal of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton from the results.
Before the F1 2025 season started in Melbourne, many had doubts about the performance of him considering his young age and experience.
However, the promising youngster has passed yet another successful weekend at the second track of the season in the Chinese Grand Prix after his impressive result at Albert Park. While the Italian completed both his and the 2025’s first Sprint race with 7th, he finished 6th in the Sunday race after he started in 8th place in his Mercedes. He moved up two spots thanks to the disqualifications of the Ferrari cars.
Kimi Antonelli got damage on the first lap of the F1 Chinese GP
On the opening lap of the race, the two Ferraris Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton made contact at turn 2, resulting in Leclerc’s left-side end plate coming off the car. The collision did not only cost downforce to him, but the car of Kimi Antonelli was also damaged.
The rookie explained that he did not even realise at the time that he got damage but he knew the car was not behaving as it should. He provided insight on the difficulties it gave him as the floor was badly compromised.
“I felt something was weird. Apparently, the team told me I had floor damage from lap 1. Now thinking back, I know where I could have got the damage.
“When Leclerc lost the [front] wing [end plate], I hit it with the floor. I remember going over it, but I didn’t really think at the time that there was some damage. But obviously, I struggled.
“I was really struggling in traction. Combined traction was a real struggle. I couldn’t really go on power. I really needed to wait until a certain moment, because the car otherwise was snapping. But it could explain the damage.”
It could have been a different race
Reflecting on his performance after the race, Antonelli elaborated that the car had a great pace waiting to be used and the race would have been very different if the unfortunate damage he got in Turn 2 did not take happen. He used George Russell’s pace as an example of the car’s potential, who bagged a second podium in sven days.
To fulfill the expectations and garner better results for Mercedes in the 2025 F1 season, he acknowledged that he needs to continue improving his driving. He finished 42s behind Russell in the end.
“I want to see some data where I could have done better. To be honest, the pace of the car is there, and I need to improve and try to put things together in order to achieve a better result.
“I think without the damage, it could have been a different race. I know the pace is there because obviously George did a great job. He was up there, so now it’s time to analyse and come back stronger to Japan.”
Every weekend is another challenge
When Antonelli was asked about his feelings about the progress he made from Bahrain testing to China, he said that he is naturally still learning a lot in each race.
The Italian driver recognised that one of the most important legs of a weekend is the qualifying to start ahead of others and have a clean race. For that, he noted that getting the Pirelli in the right window possesses great significance.
“I think every weekend is a massive learning. Of course, next weekend in Japan is going to be another new challenge, because a new track for me.
“But overall, I’m happy with the progress. I know the pace is there.
“It’s just a matter of putting all together, especially in qualifying.
“As I said yesterday, learning how to put the tyres in the right window for the start of the lap in order to have a clean lap and being able to put it all together. Because, if I do so, then I can start in a further forward position and then the race can be a different story.”
Good lessons for Kimi Antonelli an intense F1 Chinese GP Sprint weekend
Sprint weekends are already intense for experienced F1 drivers with its two qualifying and two race schedules in one week. Considering the F1 Chinese GP was the first Sprint weekend in F1 for Kimi Antonelli, it might have been overwhelming for him along with the other rookies.
Nevertheless, he took this opportunity to strengthen his performance and discipline. He defined his first Sprint race weekend as a good learning. Antonelli expressed that he looks forward to the Japanese Grand Prix which will be a normal format.
“It was an intense weekend. It was a good learning, because after the Sprint race, going back to qualifying, changing the mindset again, it’s not easy because you come from completely two different mindsets, completely two different ways of driving.
“So, definitely it was a really good learning, and now Japan is going to be back to a normal weekend. We’re looking forward to it.”
