Kimi Antonelli: “I told myself, ‘I have to win this.’” Toto Wolff was “speechless.”

Andrea Kimi Antonelli proudly commented on his victory in the Italian Grand Prix: “Thank you all for your support—it was an incredible day! I could never have imagined any of this; it’s crazy. We did it—I’m so happy!”

“Toward the end of the race at the Prima Variante, I had a scary moment: I thought I could stay on track, but then I hit the loose gravel and ended up in the gravel trap. I thought my chance was gone, but I immediately regained my rhythm and managed to take the lead,” explained the 20-year-old from Bologna.

“I realized the victory was within my reach after the restart. I told myself: I have to win this one, I have to win this one. I believed in it, especially when I was behind George. I could see the whole crowd in the stands cheering me on—it really fired me up. Thanks to everyone. This is a dream come true. Thanks to my team, my family, and all the fans. We still have a long way to go; we have to keep our heads down. But for now, I want to enjoy this victory.”

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff praised his driver: “He has all the potential to become one of the greatest, but he still has a long way to go. In the meantime, he was fantastic today. I knew he could do it when I saw him on Saturday night—he was completely focused and concentrated. His strength lies in the ease with which he shows he can handle the pressure without letting it overwhelm him. I think his young age helps him in this regard. Kimi has everything it takes to become one of the greatest. I’m almost speechless.”