The funny Formula 1 blunder: Antonelli wins, but on the podium… it’s “Winner Kimi Räikkönen!”
The first victory in Formula 1 for Andrea Kimi Antonelli at the Chinese Grand Prix will remain a historic day for Italian motorsport. In Shanghai, the young Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team driver claimed his first win in the top category, bringing an Italian back to the top step of the podium almost twenty years after the last time – when Giancarlo Fisichella won at the 2006 Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang International Circuit.
However, during the final ceremony, a curious episode took place that quickly spread around the paddock and across social media, leaving Antonelli himself surprised and triggering plenty of laughter and memes online.
When the official announcement of the winner was made, the Shanghai event speaker committed a rather spectacular mistake. Instead of correctly announcing the name of the Italian driver, the loudspeakers declared: “The winner from Italy is… Kimi Räikkönen!”. The announcer had confused Antonelli with the legendary Kimi Räikkönen, the Finnish driver who won the Formula 1 world championship in 2007.
VIDEO – KIMI ANTONELLI BECOMES… RÄIKKÖNEN !
The slip-up likely happened because of the young Italian’s name itself, which clearly recalls – or rather partially matches – that of the Finnish champion. The mistake created a brief moment of awkwardness, but also plenty of amused reactions among fans at the circuit and among the drivers themselves. Antonelli even joked about the situation with Lewis Hamilton shortly after the announcement.
Beyond the amusing gaffe, the Shanghai race will remain unforgettable for Antonelli. The young driver from Bologna completed a perfect weekend: pole position on Saturday and a composed, mature race on Sunday, resisting the pressure from his teammate and securing a victory that is destined to become part of Italian Formula 1 history.
Photo: Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team
