© Getty Images
Here is the transcript of the post 2026 Chinese Grand Prix track interviews and press conference featuring George Russell and Kimi Antonelli!
TRACK INTERVIEWS
(Conducted by David Coulthard)
Q: Kimi Antonelli, congratulations on your first Grand Prix victory.
Kimi ANTONELLI: Thank you so much. Yeah, I’m speechless. I’m about to cry, to be honest. But yeah, thank you so much to my team because they helped me to achieve this dream.
Q: You’re the first Italian to win for 20 years, so a hugely significant moment for your country as well.
KA: Yeah, I’m super happy. I said yesterday that I really wanted to bring Italy back on top, and we did today. Even though I gave myself a little bit of a heart attack towards the end with a flat spot, it was a good race.
Q: What was incredible was how mature you were. You had to fight hard with George into the first corner, giving up position to the Ferraris, but that decision there won you this big lead towards the end and ultimately the Grand Prix.
KA: Yeah, it was difficult. It was not an easy start and probably I covered a bit too much on the inside and gave too much room to the Ferrari. But at the end the pace was good and we managed to bring it home.
Q: I’m going to come back to you, so stay there. George, well, it was a busy one for you. You had the two duelling Ferraris to deal with. It looked to me like you had to take a bit more out of your tyres when you were in that battle. First of all, your thoughts on Kimi’s first victory. You remember getting yours. And then get into your Grand Prix.
GR: First, a huge congratulations to Kimi because it’s always very special to win your first race, and obviously he’s been driving really amazingly this year and this weekend especially. Yeah, pleased to be standing on the podium with him and also with this guy as well. So, it was a tough battle. Obviously, we both had really bad starts again and the Ferraris shot past, but at the end of the day getting the one-two again is all we could ask for.
Q: Kimi, coming back to you, you’ve had time to reflect on your first victory now, so has it sunk in? What does this mean now for the dreams of a championship campaign with George?
KA: Yeah, I mean, we’re just at the beginning. We keep pushing. George is an incredible driver, very strong in all aspects, so it’s going to take a lot to beat him. But it’s such a great opportunity to be working with him as well because I’ve been learning a lot from him. Looking forward to the rest of the season now. I always focus race by race and then we’ll see where we end up at the end of the year.
If you like SilverArrows.Net, consider supporting us by buying us a coffee!
PRESS CONFERENCE
Q: What a day for you, Kimi. Many congratulations. How sweet was the view from the top step of the podium?
KA: Yeah, I’m super, super happy. Such an incredible day and very grateful for achieving my first win. The team did an incredible job. The car is super quick and it’s allowing us to fight for wins. I’m really happy because they also helped me to achieve one of my big dreams. Yeah, just super, super happy.
Q: Did you always have confidence in the car and how it would end up, even when Lewis took the lead at the start?
KA: Yeah, I mean, the start is still our weak point and to be fair I didn’t go with great confidence because my two previous starts were really bad, so I didn’t know what to expect. But obviously, I covered a little bit too much on the inside and left too much space on the outside, so probably need to review that. But pace was still good, especially I felt good on the Hards, even though at the end I relaxed a bit too much and did a mistake which put a bit of pressure. But still managed to bring it home.
Q: You seemed very calm and composed throughout. What do you think is the biggest lesson you’ve learned today with win number one?
KA: There’s so much that I’ve learned, but first of all it’s never to relax too much because today it went well, but it could have been worse. So just always try to stay on point and keep the focus because today at the end I opened the room for mistakes and the mistake happened. I just need to make sure it doesn’t happen again. And then of course also just trying to focus on doing things right, procedure-wise, warm-up, bringing the tyre into the stint. I think it was a massive lesson. Also today was very cold and it was a good lesson to see what was the best way to keep the tyres in a good window.
Q: Are you going to take time to pause to celebrate tonight?
KA: Well, I’m flying home tonight, but definitely tomorrow I will take time to celebrate. Also, I think it will take a little bit of time to realise what has just happened. But yeah, super happy and of course massive thanks to the team, all the boys and girls in Brackley and Brixworth, and of course massive thanks to my family. Looking forward to the next one.
Q: Very well done. Thank you for that. Kimi, George, let’s come to you now. I know you wanted to win the Grand Prix today, but can we start just by getting your thoughts on Kimi getting that first win and his pace today?
GR: Yeah, really special day for Kimi, so huge congratulations to him. It’s obviously a day he’s going to remember forever. Again, it was just the Ferraris made our life very difficult once again. Three races down and three of those times they’ve taken the lead from us. But I felt in a pretty good place, so I got back into P2. Then, also the Safety Car timing, it was just a bit unfortunate, and coming out behind Colapinto and Ocon hindered my chances. But all things considered this weekend, after what happened in quali, P2 is a very solid result.
Q: As you say, you spent quite a lot of time amongst the Ferraris. What did you learn about their pace and where they were fast?
GR: Well, I was just waiting for the two of them to collide and somehow they didn’t. It was some of the most aggressive racing I’ve seen for a while. If I wasn’t trying to win the race, I’d have been enjoying the battle, but obviously watching Kimi pull away during those points it was a little bit annoying. But Ferrari definitely very quick. They’re quicker in the corners than us, slower than us on the straight, so it just made it a little bit challenging. And when you’re trying to get past two of them at the same point, that wasn’t straightforward. But as it stands, we have the upper hand, but we can’t take that for granted because obviously we know some things are going to be changing in a couple of months. The upgrades are massive at the moment, so yeah, let’s see where it falls out.
Q: And did the time you lost among the Ferraris cost you the opportunity of challenging Kimi a little closer?
GR: I think it would have been very difficult to challenge Kimi, to be honest. He’s been very quick this weekend and when you’ve got two cars that are very similar pace, trying to get past on the same tyres is a little bit challenging. But obviously that time I lost with the Ferraris just gave me no chance. But as I said, I’m pleased just to be in P2 because it could have been a lot worse, and overall, it’s been a solid weekend.
Q: Very well done to you. Thank you. And to Lewis, many congratulations. You have 203 Formula One podiums to your name. Just how special was this one?
Lewis HAMILTON: I’ve already said it, but a huge congratulations to this one here because it was amazing yesterday to be up here with him whilst he got his first pole, and now to get the first win.. It’s truly special getting your first Grand Prix win, I remember getting my first. To be…
KA: I was one year old, by the way.
LH: Ha! You were born in 2006, right? That’s ridiculous! So, it’s amazing to see that. After so many years and then seeing him come through and seeing talented young people who truly deserve it get to the top, it’s really awesome. So, congratulations, mate. And then for me, I started this voyage and this dream of moving to Ferrari and being on the top step with them, and this podium has taken longer than I had hoped. After a difficult year last year, to be able to be a part of developing with them, working with them over the past year, gives me huge pride and it’s such a privilege to be a part of this brand. They provided us a really solid car. As George was saying, we’ve got a great package, particularly through corners, just got to step it up to be able to keep up with them on the straights. But yeah, it’s a very special day, and especially as it’s, I guess, Mother’s Day. My mum’s here, and yeah, it’s been an awesome week.
QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Q: (Luke Smith – The Athletic) Kimi, congratulations on the win. After the race you got out of the car and Toto was there. You got a good embrace with him and Bono as well. Obviously, your dad is here this weekend too. How special has it been to share all this with the people who’ve been so invested in your journey and took that bet on you, put you in the car last year?
KA: Yeah, it’s been great to have also my dad here, to share this moment with him because he’s been part of this whole journey since karting. Also, with Bono and Toto — Toto took me in the team in 2018 and brought me all the way to Formula 1. He gave me the opportunity last year to put me in the car, and then again, this year. So definitely it’s been a great journey so far. But of course, there’s still a long way, but we’re on a good path and I’ve been enjoying a lot the time with Mercedes, with the whole team. Just looking forward to the future.
Q: (Molly Hudson – The Times) I think Toto said yesterday it was a little bit like having three Mercedes drivers up there for a second, so I guess what was it like for all of you to share that moment with each other, and for Lewis especially to have Bono there?
KA: I mean, first of all, it’s incredible to be sharing the podium with George and Lewis because George came through the junior academy like me and he’s part of the family. Lewis has made history with Mercedes and obviously it’s great for Mercedes. Yeah, I think it was a very special moment for all of us.
GR: Yeah, I mean, if we could probably all choose who we’d share the podium with, probably with each other to be honest. Obviously, I had the pleasure of being team-mates with Lewis for those years and learned so much, and then obviously being team-mates with Kimi for the past year and a bit and seeing his growth. He’s such a talented driver and he’s going to be giving me a hard time this year, no doubt. So that was really special and it was nice just to be with each other up there.
LH: Yeah, I mean, to continue on what these guys said, obviously to have been such a part of Mercedes through my career — they supported me from almost day one, 1997, I was 13 — so to then go through that journey with them and have the success with them, and obviously George and I had some difficult years in that past era, so it’s really special to see them back at the front because it’s a phenomenal team. And I know we’ve got our work cut out to beat them because when they’re on form like this it’s not easy to beat. To see George come through the sport and then get to Formula 1, and now see Kimi come through and to be able to be here with them, especially as Kimi took my seat. And then Bono, I’ve worked with for so long, so it’s like sitting here with my whole family. So that’s great.
Q: (Weian Mao – Formula Vision) What a weekend, congratulations to all of you for the weekend. What a way to finish the 19th edition of the Chinese Grand Prix. This question is a bit for George and then Lewis because Kimi is a bit young for this. Later this year we will have Formula E, three races here in China, and later this year the FIA will return for the Assembly and the Prize Giving. So, what do you see in terms of motor sport? China has come a long way, and what do you think the future could be? Do you think we should have or could we have a Chinese manufacturer join the grid?
GR: I think, like Lewis said, it’s the first time we’ve ever had the grandstand at Turn 11 and 12 full. I would say this is without doubt the most amount of support I personally have ever received at a race, bar my home Grand Prix. It just feels like the Chinese fans and everybody in Shanghai is really loving and embracing Formula 1, and it’s just getting stronger and stronger. So yeah, for sure this is a race to stay. And regarding a Chinese brand, yeah, who knows? It could be a good addition potentially.
Q: (Oleg Karpov – Motorsport.com) Kimi, have you managed to speak to Isack after yesterday? I think you attempted to apologise. He didn’t really react well to that. Did you clear the air?
KA: Yeah, I did today in the drivers’ parade and it’s all good. Of course, yesterday it was definitely my mistake because I ran into him, of course not on purpose, and I damaged his race. So, I take my responsibility and after the race of course I went to apologise. He was in the heat of the moment. We know how Isack is sometimes, especially in the heat of the moment, so I wasn’t too bothered by it because today it was all fine again.
Source: FIA.com
