Former Ferrari mechanic Francesco Cigarini, who worked at Maranello from 1999 to 2021, shared his thoughts with FormulaPassion.it on the Chinese Grand Prix and the impressive performances of Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton.
A podium that feels like redemption
Italy’s motorsport fans are celebrating Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s victory, which marks the country’s return to the top step of a Formula 1 podium after 20 years, since Gian Carlo Fisichella won in Malaysia in 2006. The 19-year-old driver from Bologna showed remarkable resilience after facing criticism last year for several mistakes during his rookie season. He responded in style with a pole position, a race victory, and the fastest lap.
Joining him on the podium was Lewis Hamilton, whose top-three finish also represents a form of redemption, as it is his first podium since joining Ferrari. FormulaPassion.it asked Francesco Cigarini, who spent 22 years at Ferrari as a mechatronic mechanic, for his thoughts on the key stories from Shanghai.
Kimi and Lewis: a fierce return from China
Francesco Cigarini commented on the performances of Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton: “Andrea Kimi Antonelli has brought Italy back to winning in Formula 1 after twenty years. What impressed me most about the weekend for the Mercedes driver in China? On the podium, we also find Lewis Hamilton with Ferrari. It’s a form of redemption for both, considering the criticism they faced in 2025.”
He added: “Behind Antonelli’s first victory is a path carefully guided – though not hidden – by a comprehensive manager like Toto Wolff, who believed in him and provided experience and a team to help the young driver grow and channel his talent in the right direction. His opportunity made sense, combined with Toto’s courage and vision, and also thanks to Lewis Hamilton’s decision to leave his seat to try the Ferrari adventure.
“Today, the doubts that arose from these two moves – Kimi joining a top team immediately and Lewis moving to Ferrari – now make sense, as both find themselves on the Chinese Grand Prix podium. It is the result of patience, something the public and teams must often exercise to achieve success. It happens frequently when everyone is aligned with the project vision and pushes hard, despite criticism and missteps.
“For Andrea Kimi Antonelli, it is undeniable that the victory increases a driver’s self-awareness and confidence. This weekend, Kimi unlocked all of that, giving him a full boost, first for himself and also for the team.”
Francesco Cigarini’s perspective as a Maranello veteran provides a grounded look at the world of F1 driver transfers and academy programs. While 2025 was a year of “growing pains” for both the young Italian and the veteran Briton, the results in Shanghai suggest that the technical and psychological foundations laid by Mercedes and Ferrari are beginning to bear fruit. For Antonelli, the pressure of being “the next big thing” has finally been converted into the currency of a race winner. For Lewis Hamilton, the transition into the unique working culture of Ferrari—a culture Cigarini knows better than most—seems to have finally reached a point of synergy. As the 2026 season continues, the “patience” Cigarini highlights will be tested again, but for one afternoon in China, the vision of both Toto Wolff and Fred Vasseur looked prophetic.
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