The 2026 Chinese GP announcer’s gaffe
Imagine winning your first race in Formula 1, sending an entire country into a frenzy, one that hasn’t seen a driver on the top step of the podium for almost exactly 20 years – the last time was with Giancarlo Fisichella on March 19, 2006 – and showing up to the most anticipated award ceremony of your life but… not being called correctly. Of course, with a name longer than average and a double “L” that certainly doesn’t help the pronunciation of those who don’t speak Italian correctly, Andrea Kimi Antonelli probably already expected that the Chinese GP announcer would have some trouble announcing his name on the podium. But, in fact, looking closely, he really outdid himself, going well beyond expectations…
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Kimi Antonelli becomes… Kimi Raikkonen
Upon entering the podium for the Italian national anthem and to receive the trophy for first place, Antonelli indeed had a surprise: the Shanghai circuit announcer actually announced him as “Kimi Raikkonen” without even trying to correct himself afterwards. A sensational gaffe that certainly did not go unnoticed: the Italian driver, in disbelief, sought the gaze of his two podium companions George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, who in turn turned with some astonishment to observe his reaction. The video in question was also reposted by the Mercedes team on its social channels (you can see it by pressing play below), emphasizing in a joking tone the surprised reaction of the 19-year-old driver from Bologna.
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Erm… that doesn’t sound right? 😂 pic.twitter.com/9NsvSRTyse
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) March 15, 2026
A small funny moment that certainly takes nothing away from Antonelli’s sporting feat who, at 19 years, 6 months and 18 days, became the second youngest driver ever to win a GP, beaten however by about 11 months by record-holder Max Verstappen (who won his first race in the 2016 Spanish GP at 18 years, 7 months and 15 days). Already at the end of qualifying, the rising star of Italian motorsport had secured a spot in the Guinness World Records, becoming the youngest pole-sitter in the history of Formula 1. For Kimi Antonelli, there is also the satisfaction of his first career hat trick, as the victory was accompanied by pole position and the fastest lap. However, it does not qualify as a Grand Chelem, because Hamilton led the first lap after an excellent start.
