Kimi Antonelli admitted he nearly gave himself a “heart attack” after sealing the first Formula 1 victory of his career at the Chinese Grand Prix.
The 19-year-old Mercedes rookie completed a remarkable weekend that had already seen him rewrite the sport’s record books in qualifying.
But even after taking the checkered flag in Shanghai, Antonelli could barely process what he had just achieved.
Kimi Antonelli’s heart attack reaction after maiden F1 win
Speaking after the race in comments reported by ESPN, Antonelli delivered an emotional reaction to winning his first Formula 1 Grand Prix.
“I am speechless. I want to cry to be honest. I said yesterday that I really want to bring Italy back on top, and I did that today. I gave myself a heart attack at the end, but it was a good race,” Antonelli said.
The Italian rookie had already made headlines by becoming the youngest driver ever to secure pole position earlier in the weekend.
But converting that pole into a victory in only his first season in Formula 1 made the moment even more historic.
Kimi Antonelli’s maiden Chinese Grand Prix win
Antonelli’s victory in Shanghai marked one of the most impressive rookie performances in recent Formula 1 history.
Starting from pole position, the Mercedes driver controlled the race for large stretches while handling pressure from the chasing pack.
The teenager managed his tires and pace carefully through the race before holding off late challenges to secure the win.
The result made Antonelli the second-youngest race winner in Formula 1 history and delivered Mercedes one of its most memorable victories in recent seasons.
For Italian motorsport fans, the win carried additional significance as Antonelli became the first driver from the country to stand on the top step of a Formula 1 podium in years.
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