Lando Norris
McLaren
Mercedes
Red Bull
Ferrari
Williams
Racing Bulls
Aston Martin
Haas
Alpine
After a thrilling Chinese Grand Prix, we asked fans to name who they thought was the Driver of the Day!
Kimi Antonelli earned the first Grand Prix win of his career in Shanghai, with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton securing the podium behind him.
Despite finishing third, Hamilton’s performance was praised across the board, with many fans suggesting that he looked like his old self again.
A maiden Grand Prix win for Kimi Antonelli, as well as a first podium appearance for Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari! 🍾
What was your favourite moment of Antonelli's debut win?
Amidst the fanfare surrounding the podium trio, some other driver performances went under the radar. Oliver Bearman secured his second-best finish in Formula 1 in fifth place, while Liam Lawson bounced back impressively from his Australian Grand Prix disaster.
When we asked F1 fans to pick the Driver of the Day from the Chinese Grand Prix, many of these names came up, but one driver reigned supreme.
READ MORE: Toto Wolff admits Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes drivers sharing China podium is a career highlight
Kimi Antonelli crowned Chinese GP Driver of the Day over Lewis Hamilton
Kimi Antonelli earned the Driver of the Day title after a sensational performance in Shanghai to win his first Formula 1 race.
When F1Oversteer asked fans on Facebook who they thought was the Driver of the Day, Antonelli once again earned a majority of the votes.
One fan wrote, “Nobody else but Antonelli. He kept his cool under pressure and deserved to win. I hope this will be the first of many.”
This sentiment was shared by several voters, as another fan wrote, “Got to hand it to Antonelli!” A third fan added, “Antonelli no questions!”
However, that isn’t to say that other drivers didn’t have support. Liam Lawson, in particular, earned some high praise, as one fan wrote, “Liam Lawson: Starting 14, finishing 7. Despite the bad luck he had on the pit stop, stopping 1 lap before the safety car.”
Another fan shared their admiration for the Racing Bulls star’s performance, noting, “Had to be Liam Lawson 14th to 7th and top Red Bull in both sprint and main race.”
Oliver Bearman had a few fans backing him, as one voter wrote, “Bearman, he went from 10th to 5th and fought multiple battles throughout the race with his teammate, both Alpine drivers, and holding off Max Verstappen in the process, all in a Haas, one of the mid to low performance cars on the grid.”
Antonelli earned a majority of the votes (eight), followed by Hamilton (six), Lawson (five), and Bearman (four).
READ MORE: Peter Bonnington explains the ‘different vibe’ of working with Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Antonelli
Some sensational performances in Shanghai 🔥 Who is your pick for Driver of the Day at the Chinese Grand Prix?
Kimi Antonelli proving to be a serious contender this season
While many fans expected Kimi Antonelli to be much better after a year’s worth of experience under his belt, the leap he has taken from year one to year two has been remarkable.
Antonelli’s internal data with Mercedes has inspired confidence within the team that he can make a big difference for them this season.
Even though some believe that Antonelli is too young at this point in his career to compete for a championship, a performance like the one he had yesterday will go a long way in proving those people wrong.
Of course, Antonelli is by no means a finished product. Toto Wolff’s warning to Antonelli near the end of the race was a reminder that the young Italian still has a long way to go as a driver.
But performances like this will only give him more confidence as he grows into one of F1’s brightest names in the years to come.
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