From the armchair to the cockpit: Kimi Antonelli wins the Formula 1 World Championship, and politicians jump on the bandwagon

Let’s at least hope that the social media managers were paid overtime for working on Sunday and late into the night. The political world, as was to be expected, has jumped on the bandwagon of Kimi Antonelli, the talented driver from Bologna who won the Formula 1 World Championship.

“Italian pride” is the most popular phrase used to celebrate a true feat—one that Italy had been waiting for for decades and that finally came to pass thanks in part to Mercedes’ reliability. And it has caused motorsports “experts” to pop up like mushrooms… in search of approval and clicks.

The title was clinched in Mexico City, where the 20-year-old from Bologna finished third at the end of a chaotic race, which restarted from the grid following Valtteri Bottas’s violent crash—his Cadillac crashed into the barriers after the left front suspension failed (the Finnish driver was unharmed). Antonelli thus became the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history and the first Italian to win the title since Alberto Ascari, 73 years ago. After crossing the finish line, he burst into tears over the radio: “We did it, thank you all, we did it.” Stepping out of the car, he hugged his mom, dad, and little sister before diving into the crowd of mechanics. Max Verstappen took the win ahead of Lewis Hamilton, with Charles Leclerc fourth, Lando Norris fifth, and George Russell sixth.

The road to the race hadn’t been easy: Antonelli had finished qualifying in fourth place, still weakened by a high fever and stomach problems from the previous days. “I feel very tired; I haven’t fully recovered yet, and to be honest, it hasn’t been an easy weekend,” he admitted, also describing the tension surrounding a title now within reach: “People tell me it’s all but done.” Words of great admiration also came from Fernando Alonso, who praised his consistency: “It seems like he always performs close to perfection. He never makes mistakes and never has a bad race.”

Among the first to offer congratulations was Jannik Sinner, who dedicated a video message to the driver that was broadcast by Sky Sport: “Hi Kimi, what have you managed to do? Congratulations on your first world title.” The Italian tennis player had been at Monza last September to watch Antonelli’s triumph in the Italian Grand Prix in person.

Not everyone, however, celebrated the day. At Mercedes, George Russell’s absence caused a stir; he left the paddock before the celebrations and avoided media obligations after a bitter sixth-place finish, with the team fined 5,000 euros by the FIA. Toto Wolff defended his decision: “The fact that he didn’t speak to the media or left the track before the celebration is completely understandable. But he’ll come back stronger.” There was also disappointment at Ferrari, where Fred Vasseur criticized the first-lap duel between Hamilton and Leclerc that cost the Prancing Horse the victory: “I expect everyone to show greater respect for the brand, the team, our partners, and, above all, the 2,000 people who work for us.”