New Delhi: George Russell, a Mercedes driver, captured the chequered flag at the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday, earning his first victory of the season while the audience in Montreal cheered. The applause grew even louder when Max Verstappen, the Red Bull star and four-time world champion, placed second. However, the day's loudest and most passionate reaction was reserved for Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who achieved the first podium of his career and is better known by his middle name. The Italian became the third youngest podium finisher in Formula 1 history at the age of 18 years and 294 days, trailing only Verstappen and Lance Stroll.

The teenager is well-liked by many in the Mercedes paddock because of his humility, wit, and funny demeanor, making him an extremely likable individual. However, he is as quick as they get on the course. When Toto Wolff, the head of the Mercedes team, chose to hire the young driver with minimal formula racing experience, experts debated his judgment.

Antonelli bypassed F3 to compete directly in Formula 2, where he finished a commendable sixth last season, after competing in Formula 4 for a few years. However, selecting him for a team that would win numerous championships, especially to replace Lewis Hamilton's enormous shoes, was a monumental challenge.

However, Wolff followed his gut and the Italian's driving ability, having seen Antonelli in the junior series. And Antonelli has lived up to expectations, repaying the trust placed in him during his first Formula One season.

The Bolognese finished an impressive fourth in his debut race at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, becoming the third youngest driver to compete in F1, behind Verstappen and Stroll, at the age of 18 years and 202 days.

He made history as the youngest driver to record the fastest lap at 18 years and 225 days during the Japanese Grand Prix in April, when his radio exchange with his engineer Peter Bonnington, well known as Hamilton's race engineer 'Bono,' went viral on social media. After being informed that he was the fastest man on the track, Antonelli replied, “I’m giving it everything, mate,” and Bono responded, “Good lad.”

Despite his inexperience, Antonelli demonstrated his speed in the season's first six races, finishing just short of the podium. However, Antonelli's moment had come at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, where he made a clever and opportunistic maneuver on championship leader Oscar Piastri to move up to third from fourth, and then pressured reigning world champion Verstappen for second place on an overtake-friendly track.

In the latter part of the race, he stood out the most as he defended against Piastri and Lando Norris's aggressive McLarens, both of whom had fresher tires. He made calculated passes over the backmarkers to open a gap behind him. After three races without points, two of which were caused by mechanical failures, his superb racecraft ultimately helped Antonelli mature and earn him a spot on the podium at the top of the sport.

"I found it extremely stressful. But I'm really happy! I got off to a good start. I was able to get into P3 and stay there at the front. “The last stint, I pushed a bit too hard behind Max and I killed a bit of the front left tyre and then I struggled a bit at the end,” said a smiling Antonelli, who was waving to the large audience chanting “Kimi, Kimi.”

"I'm really happy to bring the podium home for the team," Antonelli said, adding that he was the first Italian driver to finish on the F1 podium since Jarno Trulli in 2009.

Antonelli has shown great maturity throughout the 10 Grands Prix so far this season—not just on Sunday—for a driver who passed his driving test earlier this year. The outcome also enabled Mercedes to secure their first double podium since the November 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix, where Russell and Hamilton finished in P1 and P2, respectively.

"Since people were already saying great things about Kimi, I was keeping an eye on him. I knew him as he came up through the karting ranks. He is naturally fast, which is remarkable. "I'm very happy that it happened for him. I was never in doubt that the podium would come this year. Those are great qualities to have. What I like is his level-headed, calm approach," said Verstappen, the youngest driver to win a race. It boosts your confidence. It's a good increase. "And it will continue to improve."

If the Mercedes rookie continues to drive like this, he will likely win a lot of podiums as Wolff's former conviction is gradually becoming reality.

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