Antonelli ‘really happy' to bring home maiden F1 podium in Canada

Kimi Antonelli scored his maiden F1 podium at the Canadian Grand Prix, marking a significant turnaround after a challenging triple-header of races. The rookie driver had previously struggled with the C6 soft tyre compound, leading to retirements in Imola and Spain, and a crash in Monaco qualifying, leaving him without points. However, the cooler conditions in Montreal proved more favorable for Mercedes. George Russell secured a dominant victory from pole position, and Antonelli claimed third place, just behind Max Verstappen. His podium charge began with a decisive overtake on Oscar Piastri on the opening lap, moving from fourth to third. Mercedes' two-stop strategy then helped him maintain this position despite late pressure from the McLaren driver. Antonelli described the race as 'stressful but super happy,' admitting he pushed too hard behind Verstappen in the final stint, affecting his front-left tyre. He highlighted his strong start and the crucial move on Piastri in Turn 2 as key to his success. The C6 soft tyres, problematic in previous races, were less dominant in Canada, with mediums being the preferred choice. Antonelli expressed cautious optimism about carrying this momentum forward, refraining from declaring it the new norm but hopeful for future races. With 63 points, he is now the leading rookie in the standings, eyeing a potential maiden race win next.