- Antonelli becomes the second-youngest race winner in F1 history with win in China.
- His father, Marco, stepped away from Mercedes hospitality during the 2025 season.
- Both Marco and Toto Wolff confirm they discussed Antonelli’s readiness early on.
At the Chinese Grand Prix, Kimi Antonelli took his first F1 win for Mercedes. He led the race from the front and finished ahead of team-mate George Russell. At 19 years and 202 days, he became the second-youngest winner in the sport’s history.
The result meant a lot more than points and records. In the months before the season, Kimi’s father, Marco Antonelli, and Mercedes had worked through a quiet issue between them, as reported by F1 journalist Jacky Martens.
By the time Antonelli won in Shanghai, his father was back with the team, watching from inside the garage.
A victory that meant more than the result
Antonelli controlled the race at the Shanghai International Circuit after reclaiming the lead from Lewis Hamilton early on. He crossed the line ahead of Russell to secure a one-two finish for Mercedes. Hamilton, now racing for Scuderia Ferrari, completed the podium after a tight battle within his team.
At 19 years and 202 days, Antonelli became the second-youngest winner in Formula 1 history. Only Max Verstappen won younger, while Sebastian Vettel dropped behind him on the list. Antonelli also became the first Italian to win a Grand Prix since Giancarlo Fisichella in 2006.
The numbers told one story. The scene in the garage told another, where family and team stood together again.
The rift that the paddock noticed
The tension first surfaced in the second half of the 2025 season. Journalist Jacky Martens, speaking on the Paddock Access Podcast, described how Marco Antonelli stopped appearing in Mercedes hospitality.
“Last season, something must have happened because at some point in the second half, the father, we didn’t see him in the hospitality at Mercedes anymore, which is quite strange, especially when your son is that young like Kimi,” Martens said. “You want to be as close as possible in these situations. So that, to me, was very interesting.”
Marco still attended races, but he stayed in the general Formula 1 areas instead of with the team. The reason was never made public. Still, those who watched closely saw the distance.
By the time Formula 1 arrived in Shanghai, the mood had changed. Martens reported seeing Marco back inside the Mercedes unit. He also saw him embrace team principal Toto Wolff.
“I don’t know what happened, but definitely conversations have been made between the Antonelli side and also between Mercedes, because we saw Marco Antonelli, we saw him at Mercedes, we saw him hugging Toto Wolff,” Martens said.
“So I think they cleared the air over there, and then this all happens, Kimi taking his first victory, while his father was there. That makes it even better.”
A heartfelt message from father to team
After the race, Marco Antonelli spoke with emotion to Sky Sports F1, as reported by Motorsport. He thanked Wolff and the team for their work and trust.
“We tried to do the best for our son, but Mercedes did a big job,” Marco said. “I can say only thank you. You know, we had a moment, we talked about it. We were in Monza, Milano, two years ago. And I said, ‘Do you think Kimi is ready for the seat when he was in F2?’ And [Toto] said, ‘I think he is’. And I said, ‘Well then, let’s do it.’ But at the end, the best is Toto.”
Wolff pushed the praise back toward the family.
“No, no. I think we did it together,” he said. “Kimi, as a driver and as a personality, is because of the family. His mother, Veronica, and Marco, it’s such a solid base of a family. The karting, the many hours in the car, going to every track. Congratulations.”
The exchange showed a shared belief that had existed from the start. It also confirmed that both sides backed the decision to place Antonelli in the Mercedes seat at a young age.
What it all means going forward
Mercedes has started the 2026 season in the best way possible. The team has taken two straight one-two finishes and leads the standings early on. The pace has been clear, especially at the end of races.
Ferrari has stayed close at times, with Lewis Hamilton pushing hard in Shanghai. But when Mercedes needed to pull away, both cars found extra speed. The gap often grew to nearly a second per lap in the closing stages.
There is still a long way to go this season. But Kimi Antonelli has already shown he can lead from the front and handle the pressure. With his family close again and the team fully behind him, he has a strong base to build on.
