Kimi Antonelli secured his first Formula 1 podium by finishing third at the Canadian Grand Prix held at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Sunday, marking a significant milestone in his young career. His performance contributed to Mercedes’ first double-podium finish of the 2024 season, underscoring a promising weekend for both the team and the Italian driver.

The 18-year-old became the third-youngest driver ever to reach the podium in F1 history, following Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll. During the race, Antonelli demonstrated composure and skill, overtaking Oscar Piastri on the opening lap and repeatedly challenging Verstappen, who defended his position effectively with strategic pit stops.

Antonelli Emphasizes Areas for Growth Despite Podium Success

Despite the achievement, Antonelli acknowledged the need for improvement, particularly in qualifying performance. Speaking during the FIA press conference after the race, he highlighted ongoing challenges and the support system within Mercedes.

“I mean, I’m still aware there’s a lot of work to do, especially when it comes to qualifying, trying to be quicker at the beginning of the session. But we’re on a good path,”

Antonelli said.

“The team is doing a great job. Also, with George, he’s helping me to push myself even further. There’s a really good dynamic in the team. Hopefully, we can carry this momentum into the next few races.”

Antonelli also described the final laps of the race as highly pressurized, with Oscar Piastri closing in fiercely, causing added stress and requiring him to manage tire degradation carefully.

“I was just hoping for the race to finish, to be honest,”

he admitted.

“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.”

“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 the overtake in turn one. It took a lot of effort.”

A Memorable Podium Moment Enhanced by Family and Fan Support

Antonelli’s debut on the podium was made even more meaningful with his father, Marco Antonelli, present to witness the occasion, adding a personal element to the achievement. The enthusiastic Canadian crowd showed their support by chanting his name during his conversation with Nico Rosberg in parc fermé after the race.

“Well, it was much better than what I imagined,”

Antonelli shared.

“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 and this feeling, 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.”

Momentum Building for Mercedes and Antonelli Moving Forward

Antonelli’s strong showing at the Canadian Grand Prix signals a turning point for the young driver and Mercedes alike. With continued development and sustained team support, the driver aims to build on this early success to maintain competitiveness in upcoming races. The combination of youth, talent, and experience within the team could provide Mercedes with more frequent top finishes this season.