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Toto Wolff "overwhelmed" by emotional Chinese GP podium as Kimi Antonelli secured maiden F1 win

Mercedes team principal and CEO Toto Wolff admitted he was "overwhelmed" after Kimi Antonelli's maiden Formula 1 victory in China and the podium celebrations.

The Italian driver successfully converted pole position into his first grand prix win after an initial battle with his Mercedes team-mate George Russell and Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.

Having come out ahead, he maintained his lead to the chequered flag, becoming the second-youngest F1 grand prix winner.

The 19-year-old driver was joined on the podium by Russell, who finished second, and Hamilton, who secured his first podium finish with Ferrari. Antonelli's race engineer, Peter 'Bono' Bonnington, who famously served as Hamilton's race engineer at the Brackley outfit, accepted the constructors' trophy.

"That podium now was probably one of the best moments I've ever had," Wolff told Sky Sports F1.

"The three of them, with Bono right in the middle, where he's been with Lewis forever, and then basically taking over Kimi and making Kimi what he is today. I mean, to be honest, rarely that I'm overwhelmed, but that is such a moment."

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes (Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images)

Antonelli has been part of the Mercedes Junior Team since 2019. Asked if his victory felt like a long time coming, Wolff added: "I think it's maybe come earlier than I thought, because we said that it's going to be a difficult year with many ups and downs and mistakes. And then, bang, second race, and he's controlled it at the front.

"He's driven very well today, so he's probably a little bit better than the trajectory that I thought."

After Antonelli claimed his first grand prix pole position in qualifying on Saturday, the pressure was on, but Wolff confirmed that he dealt with it well.

"Yeah, he was actually quite calm and jovial before the race, but on the grid, you see the eyes. I think a feature of the champions, like you guys, is the eyes..."

Photos from Chinese GP - Sunday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Alexander Albon, Williams, Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Alexandra Leclerc and Carmen Montero Mundt walk in the paddock.

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing, Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Muni He walks in the paddock.

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Gene Haas, Founder and Chairman of Haas F1

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes, Alexander Albon, Williams

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Fans of Lewis Hamilton

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes, Alexander Albon, Williams

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Start action

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Franco Colapinto, Alpine crash

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Franco Colapinto, Alpine crash

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Toto Wolff, Mercedes

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Chinese GP - Sunday, in photos

Formula 1
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