(Motorsport-Total.com) – On April 17, 2024, Andrea Kimi Antonelli drove a Formula 1 car for the first time: during a rainy Mercedes test at the Red Bull Ring. Two years later, at the start of his second season in Formula 1, the Italian has already secured two victories and leads the World Championship.
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Even if the road is still long, it’s only natural to dream big: this is how ambitions take shape.
Those who have closely followed Antonelli’s career – from karting to F1, through his record-breaking seasons in junior categories – know this well. He consistently showed that spark of pure talent that convinced Toto Wolff to bet on him.
Having supported the Italian since his first triumphs within the Academy, Wolff finally made the decision to promote him directly to the team in Brackley.
It was a journey without intermediate steps, even considering the caliber of his rivals. Today, Antonelli competes against the elite of Formula 1, measuring himself against the best in the field for the goal every child dreams of.
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As Formula 1 boss Stefano Domenicali emphasizes, the Italian driver is a breath of fresh air for the sport – not only because of his age, but because of his character: still authentic yet extremely ambitious.
It is still far too early to define the legacy Antonelli will leave in Formula 1 and Italian sport. What is already clear, however, is that his path has become a source of inspiration for young drivers just starting out in karting or taking their first steps in single-seater cars.
Inspiring the younger generations
“I would say it’s fantastic, both from the aspect of inspiration for the world of motorsport itself and from the perspective of the younger generation,” says his compatriot Domenicali during an exclusive interview with the global edition of Motorsport.com in London.
“As far as racing is concerned, I already see children in karting in Italy who, when asked by their parents ‘Who is your favorite driver?’, answer: ‘It’s Kimi’. He has only won two races. That alone shows the great impact of his incredible start to the season,” says the Formula 1 boss.
“Therefore, it’s fantastic. It’s an inspiration for many young drivers and many young people, if I extend this beyond the pure ecosystem. My daughter is the same age, born in 2006. Now she follows the sport because it’s Kimi – he’s the same age. All friends of that age are watching.”
“You wouldn’t believe how incredible this is in Italy. In terms of followers on his social platforms, he’s jumped from zero to a few million in two weeks. So the effect for the entire ecosystem is enormous,” he says.
“He’s fresh blood, he’s a good guy with a good foundation. He’s still an unadulterated guy, which reflects exactly the value we want in our sport. Normal people who become something truly unique – in terms of performance and as a role model. That’s really great.”
These qualities resonate not only within Formula 1 but throughout Italy – a country that has long awaited a driver capable of consistently competing at the top. Antonelli has rekindled the flame of World Championship hope in Italy, chasing a glory that has been missing for over seventy years.
A possible shift in Italian fans’ attention?
“For Italy, it’s fantastic,” says Domenicali. “The attention is great. It’s just the beginning. He has just won two races. Even if it’s only two races – not many people have won two races. So he is at the beginning of his career, and for the first time, something will be very interesting to observe from an Italian perspective.”
Italy has a long and deep connection with the world of Formula 1 – through the many Italian engineers in the teams, the numerous technical partners, sponsors, and the Racing Bulls team in Faenza. But above all stands Ferrari, often celebrated as Italy’s national team due to its racing history, appeal, and prestige.
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However, looking at the bigger picture, Domenicali believes it will be fascinating to see if Antonelli’s rise in Formula 1 leads to a shift in Italian fans’ attention: “There could potentially be a departure of Italian fans from a pure Ferrari fixation,” he says.
“Normally, you’re for Ferrari, no matter which country the driver comes from – that’s the driver you cheer for. Now, in contrast, there’s Kimi, an Italian driver who doesn’t drive for Ferrari.”
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“That would be an incredible story to follow. Because, of course, Ferrari is Ferrari – huge, monumental. But an Italian driver like Kimi, who comes from the same region, has the same accent, and so on – it could be interesting to see how big this shift will be and how strong the attention will be.”
Having a young, authentic, and victorious driver could benefit not only Italy but also Formula 1, which gains a top driver whose age perfectly reflects the target audience the sport so eagerly wants to attract and retain.
It is only logical to think not only in sporting categories but also from a commercial perspective: Formula 1 is also a business, and to flourish, it must maximize the value of its product.
Even in the world of football, a revolution of formats has long been debated to better reach younger generations. While Formula 1, similar to MotoGP, relies on the structure of sprint weekends, certain changes depend less on the structure of the race weekend and more on the main protagonists of the championship.
Domenicali adds: “This could be an element to generate attention also in terms of content, perhaps specifically for the Italian people, but it will be very interesting to see what happens.”
Kimi has what it takes to fight at the top and for the title
Antonelli’s path did not follow the traditional “motorsport ladder.” He skipped Formula 3 entirely to move directly into Formula 2 – the prelude to his jump into Formula 1. Much of the credit goes to Wolff’s trust when, in the summer of 2024, despite other experienced drivers on the market, he decided to bet on a crystal-clear talent and brought him directly into a top team.
Domenicali praises this: “Toto chose a courageous path when he brought him directly into Formula 1, letting him skip classes and putting him in this position already last year. I don’t know how many team principals would have done that, so respect to him, he had a good eye,” he emphasizes.
“And now I think he has to protect this jewel, this investment. But I remember races where Kimi didn’t perform very well in Formula 2 and people said: ‘Ah, he’s not ready yet’. But at the end of the day, he was strong enough, self-assured, to learn from it. And now he is a protagonist, he is there, he will fight.”
“Of course, he has a great car, but I think the way he drove was remarkably strong – in terms of performance, speed, and understanding when to push and how to manage the race.”
“And of course, you can say: In the last race, the safety car, a different lap, the result would have been different. That doesn’t change what’s happening now. I mean, now he has to prove himself, and his environment must protect him, because he will be flooded with requests and attention.”
“It is important that he maintains the approach he has had so far – that is a key element for success. I wish him nothing but the best.”
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