After a stellar F1 debut in Melbourne, Kimi Antonelli feels more confident and in control as he prepares for Shanghai’s first Sprint weekend.
In the Shanghai paddock, Kimi Antonelli reflected on his sensational Formula 1 debut at the Australian Grand Prix, where the young Italian immediately made an impression by scoring points in his very first race.
After showing strong pace in practice, Antonelli’s weekend took a tough turn in qualifying when he was eliminated in Q1. A hard hit on a kerb caused significant damage to his car, making his first Saturday in F1 a difficult one.
However, the long-time Mercedes junior put that setback behind him and delivered a stellar performance on race day. Mastering the wet conditions, he stormed through the field to cross the line in an impressive fourth place.
Looking back on the weekend, Antonelli admitted that his debut was “far from perfect” due to the qualifying disappointment, but he took away plenty of positives. He also acknowledged just how intense his first F1 experience had been.
Antonelli: “F1’s Intensity Shocked Me, But I’m Ready Now”
“It took me two days after the race to fully realize that I had just competed in my first-ever Grand Prix—it was an incredible feeling,” he said on Thursday in China.
“What really caught me off guard before the weekend was the intensity of the pace, even from the very first practice session. People might not realize it, but it’s already extremely intense because you want to be at your best right from the start.”
“But I really enjoyed the race, and I gained a lot of valuable experience. Driving in those conditions was particularly useful because I got to test the intermediate tires and understand how the car behaves on wet rubber.”
“Starting from the back of the grid wasn’t ideal, of course, but it gave me insight into managing a race from that position and how to make my way through the pack. Overall, it was an incredibly valuable first weekend.”
As Shanghai hosts the first Sprint weekend of the 2025 season, Antonelli shared his mindset heading into this new challenge in his F1 career.
“It’s a different format, completely unlike Melbourne, so it will be crucial to be on top of things right away in the single practice session before the Sprint Qualifying.”
“Melbourne gave me a real confidence boost. I think I was a bit too tense, especially during qualifying. Now, I feel much more relaxed and in control. There’s still a lot to learn, of course, but I’m really looking forward to this weekend.”
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Antonelli Ready to Shine in Shanghai After F1 Debut Antonelli Ready to Shine in Shanghai After F1 Debut
