Andrea Kimi Antonelli admitted he found the latter stages of the Canadian Grand Prix “very stressful” after claiming his first podium finish in Formula 1.
Mercedes’ rookie driver rebounded from three consecutive point-less races, including two retirements due to technical problems, to stand on the rostrum for the first time yesterday. He qualified fourth and overtook championship leader Oscar Piastri at the start of the race, then kept the battling McLaren drivers behind him at the end.However Antonelli revealed he was beginning to struggle with his tyres when Piastri caught him. “I was just hoping for the race to finish, to be honest,” he said. “I was even looking at the screen counting the laps because it was very stressful.
“In the last stint, I pushed a bit too hard behind Max and eventually degraded the front-left [tyre]. The last few laps were a struggle, especially seeing Oscar getting closer and closer in the DRS range. At one point, he even tried to attempt an overtake in turn one. It took a lot of effort.”
Antonelli put some space between him and Piastri as the pair worked their way past lapped cars. Piastri then closed on him again, but dropped back when he was attacked by Lando Norris. The Safety Car was deployed after Norris crashed and remained out until the finish, securing Antonelli’s best finish in F1 to date.
The result “meant a lot”, said Antonelli, “especially after a difficult triple-header on my side. That definitely took some confidence away, but this was the best way to bounce back.”
He said the feeling of stepping onto the podium was “much better than what I imagined.”
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“Hearing the crowd while walking onto the podium, I had massive goosebumps. That is definitely a moment I will remember for a very long time.
“It gives you a boost, results like this. You can’t buy this feeling. It’s an amazing feeling and you just want more.
“I think the goal now is to try to keep the same momentum and try to achieve more podiums, and hopefully maybe the first win, you never know, in the future.”
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2025 Canadian Grand Prix
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Mayrton
16th June 2025, 10:10
Good for him. I was a bit underwhelmed by his season so far, so this is a welcome step forward!
albo94
16th June 2025, 11:37
I was also underwhelmed but there are many excuses for him.
It’s his first season in F1, racing for a Top team, against one of the most talent drivers who has driven that car already for three seasons.
For comparison (looking at the two best): Verstappen debuted in Toro Rosso alongside another rookie. Hamilton was incredible in his first season but his teammate, Alonso, was also new at McLaren, having to get used to a new team, new engine and new tires.
Rhys Lloyd (@justrhysism)
17th June 2025, 4:07
Underwhelmed? Really?
Recent history is littered with examples of well-seasoned drivers taking a while to adapt to new cars, new teams etc. Franz Tost always stated that it takes a driver around 3 years to truly find their feet in F1. (Although now we could probably wind that back to 2 years with all the extra races.)
I’m flabbergasted as to how y’all have such ridiculous expectations for drivers coming into F1 and showing fast and consistent performance straight off the bat.
Antonelli is doing an incredible job. Sure, there are mistakes here and there but they are mostly mistakes which you only learn about… by making them.
Similar people talking about being underwhelmed by Piastri—when he was highly consistent, but was clear he just struggled with the tyres. Now he’s starting to figure out the tyres, he’s starting to show his true race pace.
You don’t know what you don’t know. Things need to be learned, and they take race-mileage to learn. If a rookie is only a few tenths off their highly experienced team mate, and are mostly keeping it out the walls and are showing visible progress—they’re doing a great job. Be whelmed.
albo94
17th June 2025, 9:00
I accept the criticism (and agree).
David BR (@david-br)
16th June 2025, 10:40
Antonelli might have been stressed but I was impressed. First time at the pointy end of a F1 GP and he held his cool under big pressure, we can all guess how much getting on the podium must have meant to him.
Rhys Lloyd (@justrhysism)
17th June 2025, 4:00
@david-br yeah as much as I was hoping Piastri would find a way past, Antonelli did a fantastic job. Especially for a rookie.
Mooa42
17th June 2025, 5:28
I suspect that Oscar and Lando probably would have both made it past, if the race ran at full pace until the end. Kimi’s tyres were a lot worse than the McLarens. Thanks to Lando it is all if, buts and maybes though. Well done to Kimi.
dan
16th June 2025, 10:56
Extremely impressed would have to think he would give Lewis a run for his money if it was Kimi and LH in the Merc. When you judge in how good Russel clearly is Kimi whilst along way off still overall has the hardest yardstick in F1 after Max and he is just 18. I am hugely impressed by this drive he was not even much slower than Russel. The pole in the sprint in Miami aswell shown his speed.
On another note i genuinely think Russel is the in the top 3 along with Charles and Max. If i would hazard a guess i would think it is Max on his own then Charles and George very close. How unlucky is Lewis to be going against 2 greats in his 40’s. It makes his wins last yr and pace in Vegas all the more impressive imo. It is very unlucky for Hamilton to not have a stroll or a bottas or a yuki as teammate. He as always had great teammates on the whole if you go through his carear i have no doubt Hamilton who of 17/18/19 (very underrated years) he would have there measure he beat Russel in there 2nd year afterall being old as hell.
Simon
16th June 2025, 11:14
Er, his name’s George Russell
Jason Blankenship (@jblank)
16th June 2025, 13:01
So happy for the kid. I’m sure there’s more to come.
roadrunner (@roadrunner)
16th June 2025, 19:22
I’m really happy for him. Especially after the bad run he recently had. Just a little bit disappointed that Mercedes threw away an easy one two by not covering Verstappen on the first stint.
erix
17th June 2025, 7:19
Is he legally allowed to drink the champagne?