GP China winner Kimi Antonelli remains down to earth and focused on the 2026 season.

The spotlight of the racing world is now on young driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli winning the 2026 Chinese GP. This victory not only solidified his potential with the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team but also placed him as the second youngest driver in history to win a Formula 1 race.

The record for the youngest driver is still held by Max Verstappen, while the record for the youngest world Champion belongs to Sebastian Vettel.

Amidst the surge in popularity and major changes in his life, Antonelli chooses to remain grounded on his primary goal.

"My life outside racing has changed and I'm enjoying it. However, I have to stay grounded," said Antonelli, quoted from the Formula 1 website on Friday.

The 19-year-old driver recognizes that instant success can be a major distraction, especially in the early phase of his career. 

He believes his current situation has a high potential to divert focus from long-term targets.

Instead of getting swept up in the euphoria of victory, Antonelli instead reaffirmed his commitment to keep working hard. 

He understands consistency is key to competing at the highest level of Formula 1, especially with the season still long and 20 races remaining.

Antonelli is now targeting the 2026 world championship title, a goal that demands stable performance in every race.

"I want to be involved in the fight because right now we have a good car and a good opportunity. I am indeed lacking experience, as this is only my second season in Formula 1, but I will keep trying," he said.

This statement reflects a competitive mentality alongside an awareness of his experience limitations. Nevertheless, Antonelli remains optimistic about his ability to compete with the top drivers.

Currently, he is in second place in the provisional Standings with 47 points, just below his teammate George Russell with 51 points. The internal duel within the Mercedes team has the potential to be one of the main storylines this season.

Antonelli's impressive performance has been evident since the start of the season. He finished second at the Australian GP before finally securing victory at the Chinese GP.

Now, Antonelli's focus shifts to the next race in Japan. He emphasized his readiness to face any possibility on the track while maintaining the positive momentum built since the start of the season.

"Hopefully I can achieve something good this Weekend," he hoped.