IMOLA, Italy — Fresh off his maiden Formula 1 victory at the Chinese Grand Prix, Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli made a surprise appearance at Imola, where over 300 fans gave him a prolonged standing ovation.
The 19-year-old Italian, who hails from nearby Bologna, stopped by the Checco Costa room for an event organized by the Tifoseria Ayrton Senna Italia fan club before catching a flight to Japan from Bologna airport. Nobody expected his attendance so soon after the Shanghai triumph on March 15, 2026, but Antonelli made the effort to connect with supporters ahead of the next race.
Antonelli’s win in China marked a stunning start to his second F1 season. Starting from pole position, he led much of the race to finish first, securing 25 points and becoming the second-youngest race winner in F1 history at 19 years, 6 months and 18 days. This came just two weeks after a runner-up finish in Australia on March 8, where he started second and crossed the line behind teammate George Russell.
Those results have propelled Mercedes to a strong position early in 2026. Antonelli sits second in the drivers’ standings with 47 points, trailing Russell’s 51, while Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton follow with 34 and 33 points respectively. The team has locked out the top two spots in both opening grands prix, signaling a potent challenge under the new regulations.
Antonelli’s rapid rise builds on a promising rookie year in 2025. Replacing Hamilton at Mercedes, he debuted with fourth place in Australia and notched five podiums, including third in Canada — his first rostrum — and pole in the Miami sprint, making him the youngest polesitter ever at the time. He ended seventh in the standings with 150 points, the most by any driver in their debut season, despite a mid-season struggle in Europe marked by retirements and poor finishes around his home Italian Grand Prix.
That challenging period tested his resolve, with early promise in Melbourne, China and Miami giving way to self-doubt amid Mercedes’ suspension woes and heightened scrutiny. A frank debrief with team principal Toto Wolff after a tough Monza weekend helped him refocus, leading to consistent points from Azerbaijan onward, capped by second in Brazil and third in Las Vegas.
Now, with a win under his belt, Antonelli has his sights set higher. The standing ovation at Imola underscores his growing status in Italy, where fans see echoes of past heroes. As Mercedes eyes the constructors’ title, Antonelli’s form positions him squarely in the drivers’ championship fight, especially with the calendar’s demanding early swing to Japan next.
GRANDE KIMI! 👏 🇮🇹
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 17, 2026
Sound on to hear pure Italian passion as Antonelli becomes the country's first race winner in 20 years! 🤌 🗣️
🎥: @SkySportF1 Italia #F1 #ChineseGP pic.twitter.com/cgYyVh0f5v
