SUZUKA, April 6 (MYT) — Kimi Antonelli has set his sights on claiming his first Formula One victory after making history as the youngest driver ever to lead a Grand Prix during Sunday’s race in Japan.
SUZUKA, April 6 (MYT) — Kimi Antonelli has set his sights on claiming his first Formula One victory after making history as the youngest driver ever to lead a Grand Prix during Sunday’s race in Japan.
The 18-year-old Mercedes rookie briefly took the lead at Suzuka when race leader Max Verstappen and the chasing pack entered the pits mid-race. Antonelli ultimately finished sixth.
The Italian now holds the record previously set by Verstappen, who was 18 years and 228 days old when he led — and won — his first Grand Prix in Spain in 2016. Antonelli was four days younger when he led in Japan.
“It was an amazing feeling to lead the race for a few laps and become the youngest driver in F1 history to do so,” Antonelli said. “The next goal is to lead the one lap that matters — the final one.”
He finished just behind teammate George Russell and currently sits fifth in the drivers’ standings with 30 points. Antonelli also claimed fourth in the season opener in Australia and sixth in China, making him the top-performing rookie on the 2025 grid. Haas’s Oliver Bearman follows with five points.
Looking ahead to the Bahrain Grand Prix, Antonelli said, “Every time I step into the car, I learn more and gain confidence. Hopefully, we can keep progressing and start battling for even stronger positions.”
Mercedes’ Bradley Lord praised the young driver’s performance, saying Antonelli had “ticked off several more milestones today.”
“He’s continued building his confidence on a challenging track and delivered a solid result,” Lord added. “It’s been encouraging to watch his development — that’s now three strong performances in a row.” — AFP
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