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Kimi Antonelli Shakes Up F1 2025 Chinese GP: Surprises with Driver of the Day Win

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
March 23, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 2 mins read
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Kimi Antonelli Shakes Up F1 2025 Chinese GP: Surprises with Driver of the Day Win

Formula One F1 - Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, China - March 22, 2025 Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli during qualifying REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

In a surprising turn of events at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri, the Australian racing prodigy, clinched his inaugural victory for the season. However, the spotlight was stolen by an unexpected underdog, Kimi Antonelli, who bagged the coveted ‘Driver of the Day’ award at the Shanghai International Circuit, despite finishing eighth.

This remarkable feat by the 19-year-old Italian rookie, racing for Toto Wolff’s Mercedes team, was underscored by a commanding 20% of the public vote. On Sunday, March 23, Antonelli thundered onto the track, showing an impressive performance right from the start. His initial surge posed a formidable challenge to the reigning world champion, Max Verstappen, in the early stages of the race.

Antonelli’s raw speed was on full display throughout the race. However, as the competition progressed, he began to lose his edge, falling behind the midfield pack. He was eventually overtaken by Esteban Ocon of Haas. Yet, he managed to finish three seconds ahead of Alex Albon of Williams, earning an additional four points to his season’s tally.

The young Italian’s stellar performance at the Chinese GP earned him his maiden ‘Driver of the Day’ award, catapulting him to the fifth position in the standings, ahead of racing legends Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari.

Although Antonelli has yet to match the pace of his formidable opponent, George Russell, he continues to impress his team with his rapid adaptation to the rigours of Grand Prix racing. This includes navigating the complex dynamics of tyre management, equipment setup, and the physical demands of the sport.

The Mercedes team, with Antonelli’s unexpected feat, has managed to put pressure on McLaren in the standings. Coming into the race, the two teams were neck-to-neck, despite Mercedes supplying McLaren with their engine and electrical power unit. Mercedes now trails McLaren by a mere 25 points after two rounds, a promising sign for Wolff and his team.

This pressure could potentially cause McLaren’s Zak Brown and Andrea Stella to rethink their strategy for the upcoming 2026 season and the introduction of new regulations. This could provide a strategic advantage to Mercedes come next March.

As for Russell, despite finishing third twice and fourth in the sprint race, he remains a strong contender for the F1 title. Currently trailing Norris by nine points, Russell could soon close the gap if Mercedes succeeds in implementing some key upgrades.

In the fast-paced world of Formula 1, it’s clear that every race can bring unexpected twists and turns. As the season progresses, fans and competitors alike will be keenly watching the developments on the track.

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