Antonelli admits to ‘heart attack’ moment on way to first F1 win

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In a race that will be etched in Formula 1 history, Mercedes sensation Kimi Antonelli left fans breathless after claiming his maiden career win in the sport at the Chinese Grand Prix, admitting afterward that he nearly gave himself a “heart attack” in the final laps.

The 19-year-old Italian, who became F1’s youngest-ever polesitter in Shanghai on Saturday, was incisive from the outset, fiercely battling Mercedes teammate George Russell and Ferrari rivals Lewis Hamilton and Chales Leclerc in the opening laps of the race.

But a well-executed and composed drive, isolated the young Italian up front as Russell dealt with the Scuderia’s contenders, with Antonelli ultimately crossing the checkered flag with a 5.5s lead.

Unsurprisingly, the young gun was overwhelmed with emotion by the time he reached parc fermé.

"I'm speechless, I'm about to cry to be honest but thank you so much to my team because they helped me to achieve this dream," he said before breaking down in tears.

“I'm super happy. I said yesterday I really wanted to bring Italy back on top and we did today."

Heart-Stopping Moment on the Track

Antonelli added a layer of panic on top of his emotions in the final laps of the race when he locked up at the hairpin and ran straight off the track, a mistake that cost precious seconds to Russell chasing behind.

Pushing hard on ageing rubber, the young Italian had to reign himself in, following his race engineer’s advice to just focus on bringing the car home.

"I gave myself a little bit of a heart attack towards the end with a flat spot," Antonelli admitted.

"But it was a good race. It was not an easy start and probably I covered a bit too much on the inside and gave too much room to the Ferrari. But at the end the pace was good, and we managed to bring it home.

"I'm looking forward to the rest of the season now. I always focus race by race and then we'll see where we end up at the end of the year."

A Shared Celebration for Mercedes

While Antonelli basked in his historic triumph, Russell was equally delighted to share the podium, while Hamilton enjoyed his first top-three for Ferrari.

"Huge congratulations to Kimi, because it's always very special to win your first race and obviously, he's been driving really amazing this year and this weekend, especially," Russell said.

"So, I'm pleased to be standing on the podium with him and with this guy as well [referring to Hamilton].

"It was a tough battle. Obviously, we both had really bad starts again and the Ferraris shot past but at the end of the day getting the one-two again is all we could ask for."

For Antonelli, it wasn’t just a first win – it was a statement. The Italian teenager arrived in F1 last year with flair, grit, and a knack for delivering drama at the most critical moments.

Shanghai may have tested his heart, but in the end, it was all worth it.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.