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Valtteri Bottas says he was “really proud” to see Kimi Antonelli secure his maiden Formula 1 victory in Shanghai — a triumph the teenager emphatically backed up with a second win just a week later in Suzuka.
For Bottas, Antonelli’s breakthrough was inevitable.
“I was really happy to see that, Kimi getting his first win. I think it was just a matter of time with the machinery they have this year, and he just had a solid weekend – very good Qualifying, very good race, and got the win,” Bottas said.
At just 19 years old, Antonelli has already made history as the first teenager to claim multiple Grand Prix victories. His Suzuka success also made him the youngest driver to lead the World Championship, moving nine points clear of team mate George Russell, who finished fourth in Japan.
Bottas understands the demands that come with driving for a championship-winning team. The Finn spent five seasons with Mercedes between 2017 and 2021, claiming 10 victories alongside Lewis Hamilton, before moving on to Kick Sauber and then Cadillac. He also served as Mercedes’ Reserve Driver last season, working inside the garage as Antonelli began his Formula 1 journey.
That proximity gave Bottas a clear view of the Italian’s development.
“He’s definitely grown a lot – he’s still very young and gaining experience from every weekend, but I was always expecting him to kind of make a step from year one to year two, and it seems like he has been able to do that so it’s really good to see.”
Antonelli’s rookie campaign was defined by sharp contrasts. There were standout moments — including a Sprint pole in Miami and a maiden podium in Canada — but also a difficult run through the European leg of the season marked by multiple crashes and inconsistent form.
He failed to score in six of the seven Grands Prix following his Canadian podium, limiting his ability to support Russell in Mercedes’ Constructors’ Championship fight. However, a late-season resurgence delivered back-to-back podiums in Brazil and Las Vegas, helping the Silver Arrows secure second place behind McLaren.
Antonelli’s second season has begun with far greater authority. After finishing second in Australia — backing up Russell’s victory — he claimed consecutive wins in Shanghai and Suzuka, having also finished fifth in the China Sprint.
There have still been reminders of his youth. In Melbourne, he crashed in final practice after pushing too hard. Yet the response was telling. Antonelli rebounded strongly, demonstrating resilience and composure that have drawn praise across the paddock.
In Japan, he further underlined that maturity. Despite losing ground at the start and dropping from pole to sixth on the opening lap, he held his nerve to recover and secure victory — a drive that strengthened his early championship lead.
Bottas revealed he sent Antonelli a congratulatory message after the breakthrough win, reiterating how proud he was of the young Mercedes driver’s rapid rise.
With two victories already this season and the championship lead in hand, Antonelli’s progression from promising rookie to genuine title contender appears to be accelerating — just as Bottas expected.
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.
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