Andrea Kimi Antonelli secured his first podium finish in Formula 1 at the Canadian Grand Prix. He capitalized on the internal struggle at McLaren in the final stages, crossing the finish line third behind teammate George Russell and Max Verstappen. An impressive achievement for the 18-year-old Italian, who won the hearts of spectators in Montreal. Now, he sets his sights on his next goal: a race victory.
“Kimi, Kimi, Kimi,” echoed from the stands of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Former Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg had trouble hearing Antonelli during the traditional post-race interviews. “It was incredibly stressful,” Antonelli laughed with relief. “I had a good start and stayed at the front.” In the opening round, the rookie already overtook championship leader Oscar Piastri.
“Later, I pushed a bit too hard when I wanted to overtake Verstappen,” he grinned. For a moment, it seemed like he would pass the four-time world champion. When asked, Antonelli confirmed that he is now aiming for a victory in Formula 1. “That’s the goal,” he concluded beamingly. “But let’s be honest, we just perform really well on this circuit. Hopefully, we can carry this momentum into the next races.” Teammate George Russell was the first to cross the finish line.
