Kimi Antonelli is a hero like Oronzo Canà, but his suit kept him out of trouble

Monza crowned Kimi Antonelli as the hero of Italian Formula 1 fans, on a Sunday that turned out to be a disaster for the fans’ eternal love: Ferrari. The 20-year-old from Bologna secured a victory behind the wheel of a Mercedes that was historic in both scale and significance, even treating himself to a genuine crowd surf at the end of the race. In English, it’s called “crowd surfing”: literally, surfing on top of a large, ecstatic crowd. In Italy, however, the scene evoked something entirely different: the iconic finale of the 1984 film *L’allenatore del pallone*, in which Lino Banfi, playing Oronzo Canà, was carried in triumph by the ecstatic Longobarda fans. The big difference, however, is that there’s no indication the F1 World Championship leader reacted to the crowd’s adoration with the same words as his predecessor: “You’ve taken me for a c…” Here, at least for motorsports fans, we are simply in the presence of a hero. And perhaps even his racing suit saved him from worse trouble.

Antonelli’s feat is destined to go down in history for several reasons. Starting from nineteenth on the grid due to a penalty for replacing the power unit, the Bologna native pulled off an unprecedented comeback at Monza, also becoming the youngest driver to triumph at the Autodromo. Above all, he is the first Italian to win the Italian Grand Prix since Ludovico Scarfiotti in 1966: sixty years of waiting swept away on an unforgettable Sunday. Behind him, Mercedes teammate George Russell finished second, with Max Verstappen third in his Red Bull. Rounding out the top four were the two McLarens driven by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

The comeback, however, was not without its heart-stopping moments. In the final stages of the race, at the Prima Variante, Antonelli ran over loose gravel and then into the gravel trap, causing fans in the stands to fear the worst. “I thought my chance was gone,” the driver himself admitted after the race. But the 20-year-old from Bologna immediately regained his rhythm, got back in the hunt, and took the lead. “I realized the win was within my reach after the restart. I told myself: I have to win this one, I have to win this one. I believed in it, especially when I was behind George. I could see the whole crowd in the stands cheering me on, and that really fired me up,” said a visibly moved Antonelli.

Jannik Sinner was also there to add to the day’s excitement, watching from the stands to cheer on his friend. The world’s No. 1 tennis player, who missed the 2026 U.S. Open due to a knee injury, took advantage of a day off from his rehabilitation in Turin to visit the tournament. A decision that, once again, proved extremely fortunate for Italian sports: Sinner has confirmed himself as a true good-luck charm, following the message he sent to Federica Brignone before the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. After the race, the South Tyrolean tennis player was quick to dedicate a social media post to his friend: “Congratulations, Kimi, you’re great!”

The enthusiasm has also swept through the worlds of entertainment and sports more broadly. Adriano Panatta, speaking on ‘Domenica Sportiva,’ compared Antonelli to Sinner: “What do they have in common? They’re both absolute champions. This kid is really on a roll—he set a record in the final lap… It’s a beautiful image, and this young man seems so wholesome and upstanding; he looks like a high school student walking out with a backpack. It’s something that’s truly good for Italian sports, which is currently experiencing a fantastic moment.” The former tennis champion said he was “almost moved” by what he called “figures who are good for Italy as a whole.”

The day after the victory, Antonelli shared his emotions on Instagram with a post that quickly went viral: “My first win at home! It’s hard to describe yesterday—it’s a daydream. What I experienced is something I’ll never forget. The podium at Monza is indescribable, the warmth of all the fans, and the never-ending sea of people.” Among the carousel of photos posted on social media, however, there’s also one shot that brought a smile to many faces: Antonelli was photographed winding a strand of spaghetti directly off the trophy, playing off the shape of this year’s cup, which had already gone viral in the days leading up to the race. Even in the midst of glory, the Bolognese driver hasn’t lost his sense of humor.